As a result of the opening up of the Leigh Creek Coalfield in the late 1940s and capacity restrictions on the existing narrow gauge Central Australia Railway via the Flinders Ranges, Marree and Quorn, a new standard gauge line was built, opening on 17 May 1956 from Stirling North on the outskirts of Port Augusta to Telford Cut and on 27 July 1957 to Marree.

[1][2][3][4] The line was extended to Marree because of the volume of cattle traffic coming off the Birdsville Track.

[2][3] At Stirling North the line continues to the Northern Power Station via a balloon loop.

[7][failed verification] With the impending closure of the power station, the last train ran on the line on 27 April 2016.

[8][needs update] In 2017, control of the Leigh Creek railway line was transferred from Flinders Power to the state government's Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure.