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Rail transport in Australia | |||||
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Operation | |||||
Infrastructure company | Australian Rail Track Corporation, government and private companies | ||||
Major operators | government and private operators | ||||
System length | |||||
Total | 36,064 km (22,409 mi)[citation needed] | ||||
Electrified | 3,448 km (2,142 mi)[1] | ||||
Track gauge | |||||
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | 18,007 km (11,189 mi)[1] | ||||
1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge | 2,685 km (1,668 mi)[1] | ||||
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge | 11,914 km (7,403 mi)[1] | ||||
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Rail transport in Australia is a component of the Australian transport system. It is to a large extent state-based, as each state largely has its own operations, with the interstate network being developed ever since Australia's federation in 1901. As of 2022[update], the Australian rail network consists of a total of 32,929 kilometres (20,461 mi) of track built to three major track gauges: 18,007 kilometres (11,189 mi) of standard gauge (1435 mm / 4 ft 81⁄2 in), 2,685 kilometres (1,668 mi) of broad gauge (1600 mm / 5 ft 3 in), and 11,914 kilometres (7,403 mi) of narrow gauge (1067 mm / 3 ft 6 in) lines.[1] Additionally, about 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) of 610 mm / 2 ft gauge lines support the sugar-cane industry.[2] 3,488 kilometres (2,167 mi), around 11 percent of the Australian heavy railways network route-kilometres are electrified.[1]
Except for a small number of private railways, most of the Australian railway network infrastructure is government-owned, either at the federal or state level. The Australian federal government is involved in the formation of national policies, and provides funding for national projects.