{{about|a former train service|the railway line between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta it traversed|Trans-Australian Railway}} {{italic title}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox rail service |box_width = |name = ''Trans-Australian'' |logo = |logo_width = |image = Trans-Australian train soon after dawn at Cook station, 22 May 1986 -- locomotives GM36 and GM22 at head end.jpg |image_width = |caption = The ''Trans-Australian'' soon after dawn at Cook station bound for Perth in 1986 |status = Discontinued |locale = South Australia<br/>Western Australia |predecessor = |first = 1917 |last = 27 June 1991 |successor = |operator = |formeroperator = Commonwealth Railways<br/>(1917–1975)<br/>Australian National<br/>(1975–1991)<br/>Western Australian Government Railways<br/>(1969–1991) |ridership = |start = Port Augusta /<br/>Port Pirie /<br/>Adelaide |stops = |end = Kalgoorlie /<br/>Perth |distance = |journeytime = |frequency = |trainnumber = |line_used = Adelaide-Port Augusta<br/>Trans-Australian<br/>Eastern Goldfields<br/>Eastern |class = |access = |seating = |sleeping = |autorack = |catering = |observation = |entertainment = |baggage = |otherfacilities = |stock = |gauge = {{RailGauge|1435 mm}} |speed = |owners = |routenumber = |map = |map_state = }}
The '''''Trans-Australian''''' (originally known as the '''''Trans-Australian Express''''') was an Australian passenger train operated by the Commonwealth Railways initially between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie on the Trans-Australian Railway line, and later extended west to Perth, and east to Port Pirie and Adelaide.
==History==
The train commenced operating between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie in 1917<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94879560 |title=Trans-Australian Express Delayed by Hotbox. |newspaper=Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950) |location=WA |date=8 June 1938 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Gillman, B. H | title=Linking East and West: a trip with the first Trans Australian Express. – Reprinted from the S. A. R. Officers' Magazine, Nov/ Dec 1919- | journal=Bulletin (Australian Railway Historical Society) | publication-date=July 1982 | volume=33 | issue=July 1982 | pages=137–147 | issn=0005-0105 }}</ref> following the completion of the Trans-Australian Railway.<ref name=comrails>[http://www.comrails.com/common/glossary_t.html Trans-Australian Passenger Train] comrail.com</ref> It was extended to Port Pirie in 1937 following the completion of this part of the line.<ref name=LOberg>{{cite book|last=Oberg|first=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s – 1980s|year=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0-730100-05-7|pages=122, 164}}</ref>
Initially the train was hauled by G class locomotives and from 1938 by C class locomotives.<ref name=LOberg/> In 1951 it began to be hauled by GM class diesel locomotives.
Originally it only conveyed sleeping accommodation but aside from a period in the 1960s, it was not until 1981 that seated accommodation was provided.<ref name=comrails/> In 1964 Commonwealth Railways purchased 24 carbon steel carriages from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=John|title=Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2 1955-1966|year=2008|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|isbn=978-1877058738|pages=266–272}}</ref><ref>[http://www.comrails.com/cr_carriages/cas00102.html Commonwealth Railways Passenger Carriage Information] Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages</ref> These were later augmented by stainless steel carriages.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=John|title=Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3 1966-1977|year=2010|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|isbn=9781877058905|pages=16–35}}</ref><ref>"Railways of Australia (Indian Pacific) Cars" ''Railway Digest'' November 1986 page 353</ref> It also operated with other rolling stock, de-motored Bluebird railcars being used by the late 1980s.
Following the conversion of the line from Kalgoorlie to standard gauge the ''Trans-Australian'' was extended to Perth on 15 June 1969 replacing ''The Westland''.<ref name=BureauTransportEconomics>[http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/1977/files/report_031.pdf A Study of East-West Rail Passenger Services The 'Indian Pacific' and 'Trans Australian'] Bureau of Transport Economics May 1977</ref> For a time from December 1973 the service ran daily with the ''Trans-Australian'' combined with the ''Indian Pacific'' at Port Pirie on the days the latter ran.<ref name=GHigham>{{cite book|last1=Higham|first1=Geoffrey|title=Marble Bar to Mandurah: A history of passenger rail services in Western Australia|date=2007|publisher=Rail Heritage WA|location=Bassendean|isbn=978-0-9803922-0-3|pages=149–150}}</ref>
At this stage the service was operating five times per week, with the ''Indian Pacific'' operating on the other days to provide a daily service. This had ceased by May 1977 with each operating individually and the ''Trans-Australian'' reduced to three times weekly.<ref name=BureauTransportEconomics/><ref name=GHigham/>
After the Port Pirie to Adelaide line was converted to standard gauge in 1982, the ''Trans Australian'' was extended to Keswick Terminal in Adelaide.
In the wake of a recession and cheaper air fares, the service was reduced from two services per week to one in February 1991 with this too cancelled from June 1991.<ref name=comrails/><ref>"Interstate cutbacks" ''Railway Digest'' July 1991 page 231</ref>
== Gallery == {{gallery|File:G14 + Trans-Australian Express, Nullarbor Plain, 1924.jpg|The ''Trans-Australian'' in 1924|File:GA24 + Trans-Australian Express, nr Port Pirie, 1938.jpg|The ''Trans-Australian'' in 1938|File:GM2 + Trans-Australian, Port Pirie, ca 1951.jpg|The ''Trans-Australian'' in 1951|File:Commonwealth Railways poster -- Travel by Trans-Australian Railway, ca 1940.jpg|Poster advertising the ''Trans-Australian'' about 1940|File:Poster -- Trans-Australian Railway (steam locomotive), late 1940s.jpg|Post-war poster advertising the ''Trans-Australian'' in the final years of steam traction|File:Commonwealth Railways poster -- To the east in air-conditioned comfort (Trans-Australian Railway), 1951.jpg|Poster advertising the introduction of diesel locomotives for the ''Trans-Australian'' in 1951}}
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==See also== {{portal|Trains|Australia}} *List of named passenger trains of Australia
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}}
{{AustralianInterstateRail|state=collapsed}}
Category:Interstate rail in Australia Category:Named passenger trains of Australia Category:Night trains of Australia Category:Nullarbor Plain * Category:Railway services introduced in 1917 Category:Railway services discontinued in 1991 Category:1917 establishments in Australia Category:1991 disestablishments in Australia Category:Discontinued railway services in Australia