Western Australian Government Railways
WAGR logo on old rolling stock at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 October 1890 |
| Preceding |
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| Dissolved | 30 June 2003 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Headquarters | Public Transport Centre |
| Key document | |
Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the operator of railway services in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the State Government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsibility for tram and ferry operations that it assumed and later relinquished. Its freight operations were privatised in December 2000 with the remaining passenger operations transferred to the Public Transport Authority in July 2003.
The first WAGR line opened on 26 July 1879 between Geraldton and Northampton. it was followed by the Eastern Railway from Fremantle to Guildford via Perth on 1 March 1881. The WAGR adopted the narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) in order to reduce construction costs.
Over the next few decades, an extensive network of main lines and branches throughout Western Australia would be built, primarily to service the wheatbelt. Prior to the expanded use of road transport, the network was of vital importance in the state, particularly for the moving of agricultural, forestry and mining products.
The WAGR network was joined to that of the rest of mainland Australia, albeit to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge, a different gauge, in October 1917 with the opening of the Commonwealth Railways' Trans-Australian Railway to Kalgoorlie.
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