Rail Transport in New South Wales - Foreign Railways

Foreign Railways

Because parts of New South Wales are closer to adjacent states than the state owned railway, foreign lines of different gauges have extended short distances into New South Wales.

These include:

  • Silverton Tramway from South Australia to Broken Hill via Silverton – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge
  • Queensland Rail from Queensland to Tweed Heads – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge

The Deniliquin-Moama line was the first 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge line to be extended into the state. Permission was granted to the Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company by the New South Wales Government in 1874 to construct a line 45 miles (72 km) long line from Moama to Deniliquin, connecting with the Victorian Railway system at the Murray Bridge, near Echuca and the line was opened in 1876. This was followed in 1906 when an agreement was made between both states for the Victorian Railways Goulburn Valley line to be extended north into Tocumwal. Opened in 1908, both states shared construction costs for the line but the profit (or loss) would be Victoria's.

The final stage was in 1917 when the Border Railway Commission (made up be representatives of both states) recommended favourably on the construction of four additional Victorian lines into New South Wales, culminating in the 1922 Border Railways Acts of both states. The Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company was taken in 1923 at a cost of £165,000. New construction included the Balranald, Oaklands, Stony Crossing, and Lette lines. Only the first two remain open today.

Read more about this topic:  Rail Transport In New South Wales

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