While railways in some states were briefly operated as private companies, railways of Australia have historically operated as Government instrumentalities.
The earlier form of a single state government railway department in each state no longer exists – with complex relationships developed by state and federal government corporations operating in multiple locations and across borders between states.
They are further divided into 'above' and 'below' rail companies – track owners, and train operators. Some companies are both.
Track and Train Aurizon Metro Trains Melbourne (manager of suburban trackage owned by VicTrack) Queensland Rail TasRail V/Line (manages all Victorian track owned by VicTrack, except the suburban and interstate networks)
Track Only Arc Infrastructure (Western Australia) Australian Rail Track Corporation (interstate network) John Holland Rail (Country Regional Rail Network in New South Wales) Transport Asset Holding Entity of NSW (urban passenger lines in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong area, other New South Wales lines are controlled or maintained under contract by Australian Rail Track Corporation and John Holland Rail) VicTrack (owner of Victorian network) South Maitland Railway (New South Wales)
Train Only Suburban Adelaide Metro Metro Trains Melbourne Metro Trains Sydney Queensland Rail Sydney Trains Transperth
Regional Journey Beyond NSW TrainLink Queensland Rail Transwa V/Line
Freight Aurizon - Queensland NG (Intermodal and a variety of Bulk commodities including Coal, Grain, ore, fertiliser and acid), NSW (Hunter Valley, Riverina), Victoria (Bulk - including intermodal), SA/NT (Adelaide-Darwin Intermodal, Melbourne-Perth Intermodal Grain, Ore, Gypsum (Eyre Peninsula Railway Network), WA (variety of Bulk commodities including Iron Ore and Grain) Bowmans Rail - South Australia Pacific National - Qld (Coal, Intermodal, Sugar), NSW (Intermodal, Coal, variety of Bulk commodities including Grain and Ore), Victoria (Intermodal and Grain), SA/WA - intermodal, Journey Beyond hook-and-pull contract Qube Logistics - Qld (NG Mt Isa Ore, SG Steel), NSW (intermodal, Steel and a variety of bulk commodities including Ore and Grain), Victoria (Intermodal and Steel) SCT Logistics Melbourne-Perth, Parkes-Perth, Melbourne-Brisbane Intermodal, Dooen-Melbourne Intermodal Southern Shorthaul Railroad - Niche operator hauling grain, intermodal and coal in NSW and Victoria Watco Australia - Qld (Queensland Government-funded cattle trains, grain services, shunting at the Port Kembla steelworks) WA Infrastructure trains and BHP Nickel West contract. Crawfords Freightlines - Intermodal services in NSW.
Heavy Haul BHP Fortescue Rio Tinto Roy Hill
Tourist and Heritage List of heritage railways in Australia
Rolling stock hire Rail First Asset Management Consolidated Rail Leasing RailPower
Manufacturers Downer Rail UGL Rail Alstom Voestalpine Railway Systems Salix Products Pty Ltd Vossloh Pacific Rail Engineering Progress Rail
See also Rail transport in Australia List of former Australian railway companies
External links Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government: Organisation of Australia's Railways