Doomben railway line, Brisbane

SEQ Transit Lines
line_type = rail
from = Brisbane central business district
to = Doomben
name = Doomben Line

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line_owner = QR Limited
map_colour = Purple
line_length = 9.9
stations_number = 11
operator_names = Citytrain
fleet_names = EMU and SMU 200/220 series
date_1 = 1882
event_1 = Opened
date_2 = 1988
event_2 = Electrified to Eagle Farm
date_3 = 1993
event_3 = Passenger services suspended
date_4 = 1998
event_4 = Passenger services resumed to Doomben

The Doomben railway line is an suburban railway line extending 6.2 km (3.9 mi) east-northeast from Brisbane (9.9 km from Central station by rail), the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the QR Citytrain network.

History

The line opened on 3 September 1882 to Pinkenba railway station. During World War I and World War II, with deep berthing available to ships at Pinkenba on the mouth of the Brisbane River, troops camped in the Pinkenba and Meeandah localities. Passenger ships used the Pinkenba wharf, and special trains ran from Brisbane to Pinkenba.cite book | last = Hallam | first = Greg | title = Brisbane's Biography (Steamtrain Sunday) | publisher = QR Limited | date = 2005 ]

The line was electrified in 1988, but only until a number of metres past Eagle Farm, the next station after current suburban terminus Doomben; only diesel-hauled services could travel the full length of the line, and those were infrequent. All passenger services on the line were suspended in September 1993 by a Goss Labor Party government as part of a state-wide rationalisation of the rail network with the closing or suspending of under-utilised or unprofitable rail lines. Only a few special services were run on the line on days of major race events at adjoining race tracks.

Electric passenger services resumed on 27 January 1998 under a Borbidge National Party government, but only as far as Doomben [cite press release | title = Doomben Rail Service Resume January 27 | publisher = Queensland Government | date = 1998-01-21 | url = http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=5094 | accessdate = 2007-11-22 ] , with bus connections to the other abandoned stations.

The entire Pinkenba railway line is still operational for freight and heritage services.

Heritage services

QR occasionally run special steam train passenger services on the entire Pinkenba railway line as part of their semi-regular Steam Train Sunday excursion service. [cite web | title = Citytrain - Events - Steam Train Sunday | work = Events | publisher = QR Limited | url = http://www.citytrain.com.au/events/Steam_Train_Sunday/steam_train_sunday.asp | accessdate = 2007-11-22 ] This is the only way to travel on the full length of the line.

Line guide and services

All services stop at all stations to Roma Street railway station. The typical travel time between Doomben and Brisbane City is approximately 18 minutes (to Central).

Doomben line services typically continue as Cleveland line services. No rail services operate on Sundays or public holidays.

Passengers for/from the Airport, Caboolture and Shorncliffe lines change at Eagle Junction, Ferny Grove and Nambour and Gympie North lines at Bowen Hills, and all other lines at Central.

References

External links

* [http://www.citytrain.com.au Citytrain]
* [http://www.transinfo.com.au TransInfo]
* [http://www.citytrain.com.au/events/Steam_Train_Sunday/steam_train_sunday.asp Steam Train Sunday]