Mungindi railway line

The Mungindi railway line is a railway line in northern New South Wales. It branches from the Main North line at the town of Werris Creek and heads north-west through the towns of Gunnedah and Narrabri before reaching Moree which for many years was the railhead before the extension to Mungindi was constructed. The line is currently truncated to Camurra between Moree and Mungindi. The line between Werris Creek and Moree is also known as the North-West line.

History
The line opened from Werris Creek to Gunnedah in 1879, Narrabri in 1884 and Moree in 1897. Moree was for many years the railhead for the large sheep stations in the area, however the construction by the Queensland Government of a railway close to the NSW border prompted the construction of a line from Moree to Mungindi, which is on the state border. The line opened in 1914, and effectively became considered an extension of the mainline from Werris Creek. The line traverses the black soil plains of the area, much of which are devoted to sheep grazing.

In 1974, the line north of Weemelah was cut by flooding and the line was thus truncated at this location. On 1 September 2009, services were suspended between Camurra and Weemalah, however the decision was reversed in November 2009 with the line expected to reopen in February 2010 after approximately 2500 sleepers are replaced.

In 2008, CTC (Centralised Traffic Control) was extended as far as Narrabri primarily for coal traffic.

Branches
A branch line was opened from Moree to Inverell in 1901, with proposals to extend it to Glen Innes, Grafton and Iluka at one time, but nothing came of this plan. This line was closed in 1994.

A branch line was opened between Camurra (11 km north of Moree) to North Star and Boggabilla in 1932. It is now closed beyond North Star.

Another branch was opened from Narrabri to Burren in 1903 and it was extended to Cryon in 1905 and Walgett in 1908. This line is still open for freight only as far as Walgett wheat terminal.

In 1906 a branch was opened from Burren Junction to Pokataroo in 1906. The last of the line was closed past Merrywinebone in 1974, when it was damaged by floods. It is now only open for grain traffic.

Passenger Service
In the past, the North West Mail was the principal passenger service to Moree. Between 1926 and 1974, CPH railmotors provided a passenger service between Moree and Mungindi connecting with the North West Mail usually three times per week.

The North West Mail has since been replaced by an Xplorer service, first operated by CountryLink, which was then renamed NSW TrainLink. The train now operates as part of the NSW TrainLink Regional North West line between Moree and Sydney Central, dividing/amalgamating at Werris Creek with a train from Armidale.

Service on the Burren branch has been replaced by coaches on the Regional North West line.

Freight Service
Grain trains continue to run along most of the line, including some of the branches.

Control
The line is now leased to Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). All branches except the Boggabilla branch are controlled and maintained by John Holland Rail, as part of their contract to operate the Country Rail Network.

The line between Werris Creek and Narrabri is controlled using NSW single colour light signals from ARTC's Network Control Centre North (NCCN) at Broadmeadow. The line north of Narrabri is controlled using train order working.

The future
The line significantly upgraded as part of the ARTC's inland rail project. New lines will be built to connect the line with the Parkes-Narromine and Queensland Rail's South West line at Narrabri and North Star respectively. New sidings and passing loops will also be built between Narrabri and North Star.