Northern Tasmania Passenger Rail

Tasmania has been without any regular passenger rail services for over 40 years. This feasibility study in Northern Tasmania is around creating the first multi-modal integrated network in the state, and using rail to provide that artery.

The Tasmanian rail network is difficult in form, having never seen any major improvements since the 19th century. As a competitor to road-based transport it is functional only in bulk rail freight, however, an investigation for potential passenger operations should be considered.

It was identified that an area suited to passenger rail in Tasmania is in the state’s North, given a population of approximately 100,000 in key towns adjacent to the rail corridor, and 1.5 million visitors annually through the gateways of Devonport and Launceston.

Connecting these two cities by rail would enable greater capacity and service increases, integration of regional networks, as well as expansions in population for commuting, education, and recreation in satellite towns.

As a predominantly road-oriented transport culture, investment in transport infrastructure has been entirely focussed on roadways. Public policy has also permitted rail as costly and uneconomical. The feasibility study investigates all aspects of the rail business, including operations, finance, and planning.

Journey times on the existing railway between Launceston and Devonport stand at 2.5 hours. Comparatively road coaches are between 1.5 – 2 hours. By providing a service offering that appeals more than buses, customers can enjoy greater Value of Time savings by including Wi-Fi and onboard catering.