Rail transport in Australia

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Rail transport in Australia
Passenger trains in Queensland
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]
Map Passenger trains in Australia (2015)

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.