Corinda–Yeerongpilly railway line

(Redirected from Tennyson railway line)

The Corinda–Yeerongpilly line (also known as the Tennyson line) is a railway line in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It connects the Beenleigh and Ipswich lines for freight trains, but is no longer used for revenue passenger services in normal operation.

Corinda–Yeerongpilly line
Overview
Websitequeenslandrail.com.au
Technical
Line length3.8 km (2.4 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Corinda–Yeerongpilly
railway line

showing distance from Central
and ticket zones

km
Zone
2.7
Bowen Hills
1.3
Fortitude Valley
0.0
Central
0.8
Roma Street
2.6
South Brisbane
3.5
South Bank
4.3
Gloucester Street
5.1
Park Road
 1 
 2 
5.9
Dutton Park
7.1
Fairfield
8.5
Yeronga
9.3
Yeerongpilly
 2 
 3 
10.4
Tennyson
Moolabin Goods Yard
11.6
Corinda

During times of disruption in the inner south of Brisbane, certain services can be maintained by running through this line. For example, if there was a disruption at South Brisbane, Gold Coast services could be maintained by travelling along the line via the Ipswich line to Corinda, then via this line to Yeerongpilly, and then south as per normal along the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line.

The line is a major freight corridor, being the main connection between western Queensland freight lines, the Port of Brisbane and the marshalling yards at Moolabin, Clapham and Acacia Ridge.

Revenue passenger services on the line ceased in June 2011.[1][2] Despite this, the line has continued to be utilised for empty/non-revenue passenger services to perform turn backs and to reposition rolling stock. The line has recently seen greater use due to the construction of the Cross River Rail project, to maintain Beenleigh and Gold Coast services during various track closures beginning in 2023. Such services ran express from either Moorooka or Altandi to Roma Street via the Tennyson Line in both directions.[3]

History

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The line was opened in 1884 as part of a line connecting the Ipswich line to the Brisbane River wharves at Stanley Street, South Brisbane, to provide a connection for coal mines exporting and/or refueling ships at the port.[4] When the Beenleigh line was built south from Yeerongpilly, that became the mainline and the line to Corinda became the connecting link.

The line was duplicated in 1916, and electrified in 1982.

Line guide and services

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Prior to the opening of the Merivale Bridge in 1978, the line was the only connection between the northern and southern portions of the Brisbane suburban network. Through trains ran from Stanley Street and later South Brisbane to Corinda, Darra and Ipswich in the morning peak and afternoon school hours with a shuttle between Yeerongpilly and Corinda at other times. After 1978 the line lost some of its importance and most through trains were withdrawn. The shuttle was withdrawn on 1 June 1998 but reinstated soon after. The shuttle continued until 25 May 2001 when it was replaced by buses, with through services from Corinda to Bowen Hills railway station in the morning and afternoon. Through services continued to operate at peak times on weekdays until they were withdrawn in June 2011.[2]

Calls to re-open the Tennyson line

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In 2021, State MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman and Councillor for Tennyson, Nichole Johnston, called for the Tennyson line to be reopened, citing less congestion and better public transport for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as potential results of reopening. This call was rebuked by State MP and Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who stated that the Cross River Rail project will address these needs, without reopening the Tennyson line.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Heger, Ursula (17 November 2010). "Rail revamp on track but road upgrade needed – Trains to get boost in number". The Courier-Mail. p. 4. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Changes to route 104 services". Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Cross River Rail Track Works" (PDF). Queensland Rail. Queensland Rail. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  4. ^ Kerr, J. 'Triumph of Narrow Gauge' Boolarong Publications 1990.
  5. ^ "Estimates: Question about reopening the Tennyson train line". Michael Berkman MP for Maiwar. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
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