List of urban rail systems in Australia

(Redirected from Commuter rail in Australia)

Urban rail transit forms a vital part of transportation in major Australian cities.

Definitions

The Commonwealth government Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics and industry peak body Australasian Railway Association, who jointly publish the Trainline statistical report categorise Australian passenger systems as "urban" or "non-urban".[1]

Urban networks are further classified as "light rail" or "heavy rail". Light rail in Australia includes established tram networks in Melbourne and Adelaide continuously operating in various forms since the late 20th century, as well as networks in other cities newly constructed after the cessation of tram operation. Heavy rail networks primarily describe passenger operations over parts of mixed-traffic rail systems centred on capital cities and also includes the Sydney Metro system, which operates on its own dedicated corridor.

Non-urban passenger networks are classified according to their passenger task. "Inter-city" or "regional" networks are defined to be those whose primary market "...include[s] daily commuting or day return business or leisure travel" to major cities and are therefore included in this article. Other markets, such as long-distance operations between cities and regional centres, tourist-focused and heritage services, are excluded from this list.[1]

Urban rail systems

Average daily patronage, where possible, is taken from the last calendar or financial year. System lengths are given in route kilometres. The largest, most extensive urban (as distinct from interurban) system is found in Melbourne, while the system with the highest patronage is found in Sydney. Patronage figures are for 2018–19 unless otherwise stated.

CitySystem nameOther cities servedTypeAverage daily patronageLinesStations/ stopsLengthPatronage/km
SydneySydney TrainsHeavy rail1,033,150[2]8[3]170369 km[4]2,799/km
Sydney MetroRapid transit74,000 (2023)[5]11336 km2,055/km
Sydney Light RailLight rail86,444 (2023)[6]34224.7 km3,500/km
NSW TrainLink (commuter services)Newcastle, Wollongong, Scone, Dungog, Goulburn, Bathurst, Nowra (Bomaderry)Heavy rail112,300[7]5156977 km114/km
Newcastle
Newcastle Light RailLight rail3,400 (2019)[8]162.7 km1,259/km
MelbourneMetro Trains MelbourneHeavy rail660,300[9]17219405 km1,645/km
Yarra TramsTram493,292 (2023)[10]241,763250 km1,973/km
V/Line (commuter services)Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour, Latrobe ValleyHeavy rail57,500[11]566610 km94/km
PerthTransperthMandurahHeavy rail168,600[12]675187 km936/km
BrisbaneQueensland Rail CitytrainGold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine CoastHeavy rail150,000[13]13152689 km206/km
Gold CoastG:linkLight rail11920 km
AdelaideAdelaide MetroHeavy rail42,880[14]681126 km340/km
Glenelg tramsTram33315 km
CanberraCanberra Light RailLight rail11412 km

See also

References