<P> Many heavy haul coal lines were built in the late 20th century from the ports of Gladstone (beginning in 1968) and Hay Point (beginning in 1971). Electrification of some of the heavy haul coal lines commenced in 1986 . Finally an electrified rail system was developed in suburban Brisbane from 1979 . Eventually the North Coast line between Brisbane and Rockhampton was electrified . This, together with the central Queensland mining railway, constitutes Australia's only significant rural rail electrification . </P> <P> The first railway in Western Australia was a private timber railway from Lockville to Yoganup, south of Perth . In 1879, Western Australian Government Railways opened a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge line to connect the copper mine at Northampton and the port of Geraldton . Subsequently lines also developed from the ports of Fremantle (the port of Perth), Bunbury, Albany and Esperance, mainly for carrying grain and minerals . The line between Fremantle, Perth and Guildford (about 15 km further east) was opened in 1881 . In 1893, Perth was connected to the port of Bunbury, 175 kilometres south of Perth . In the following year the Midland Railway Company opened a line from Perth to Walkaway, which connected with the Government line to Geraldton, 424 km north of Perth . In 1896, the railway connected Perth to Kalgoorlie, where gold had been discovered in 1893 . </P> <P> In the 20th century, Perth was finally connected to the eastern states . In 1917, the standard gauge Trans - Australian Railway connected eastern Australia with the narrow gauge network at Kalgoorlie . The nationalisation of non-paying branch lines started in 1957, with the closure of many lines . Commencing in the 1960s, a number of long distance heavy - haul railways have been built in the Pilbara region by major iron mining companies, particularly BHP Billiton and Hamersley Iron . New lines are still being built in this area, particularly to supply the booming Chinese market . In 1986, the electrification of Perth suburban lines with a 25 kV AC overhead power supply commenced . The longest new line was opened on 23 December 2007 from Perth to Mandurah . </P> <P> In 1854, South Australia opened a horse - drawn tramway from the port of Goolwa on the Murray River to an ocean harbour at Port Elliot to transfer freight between shallow - draft vessels and coastal and ocean - going vessels, which later became part of the steam - powered network . The South Australia line was later extended to a safer harbour at Victor Harbor . </P>

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