North Coast railway line, New South Wales

rdf:langString North Coast railway line, New South Wales

rdf:langString North Coast Line

rdf:langString North Coast Line

rdf:langString Clarence River in 1932

rdf:langString Grafton Bridge opened over the

rdf:langString Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales

rdf:langString collapsed

rdf:langString Department of Railways

rdf:langString Open

rdf:langString The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, Australia, and forms a major part of the Sydney–Brisbane rail corridor. The line begins at Maitland and ends at Roma Street railway station in Brisbane, although freight services terminate at the yard at Acacia Ridge on the outskirts of Brisbane. Along the way, the railway passes through the towns of Dungog, Gloucester, Wingham, Taree, Kendall, Wauchope, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Urunga, Sawtell, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Casino and Kyogle. After the standard gauge line ends at Acacia Ridge, it forms a dual gauge line into Brisbane, running alongside parts of the Beenleigh railway line. Since the Main Northern Line was closed north of Armidale in 1988, the North Coast line is now the only route between Sydney and Queensland. With the closure of former branches to Dorrigo (1972) and Murwillumbah (2004) there are no operating branches off the line. The Bonalbo branch from Casino was stillborn, with partial construction left incomplete. At the NSW/Queensland border is a long tunnel called Border Tunnel. Immediately south of it was Border Loop, a short crossing loop, which is now closed. About one kilometre south of that is the Cougal Spiral. These two locations are often confused. The line is owned by the Transport Asset Holding Entity but leased to the Australian Rail Track Corporation until 2064.