new bogie wagons replaced them. In 1987, the bogie wagon fleet numbered about 5000: approximately 700 grain hoppers, 800 container flats, 1000 louvred vans, 700 open wagons, 400 tank cars, and 300 flat wagons. Today, the broad gauge intrastate fleet numbers about 2600, with large numbers of louvred vans, open and flat wagons, and tank cars stored or scrapped due to the transfer of traffic to road following years of apathy by Governments. Operations Commodities Victoria does not have a dominant mining base as in other states, and has traditionally been more dependent on agriculture for rail freight traffic. In the early 20th century, rail was a "common carrier" and was required to carry almost any freight offered. After World War I, road competition increased, until in 1933, legislation was passed to regulate road vehicles competing with rail on specific routes. From 1974 to the 1980s, intrastate road freight was deregulated, and the Victorian Railways' "common carrier" obligations were removed, resulting in the loss to road of much non-bulk freight. In 1987, 10.51 million tonnes of freight was carried by rail, with bulk grain being the main commodity, consisting of 31.4% of traffic. By 2016, the only remaining general containerised freight services on the intrastate network were operated to Warrnambool, to Dooen, to Merbein and Donald, and to Tocumwal, all originating from the Port of Melbourne and running between three and five times per week. Other intrastate rail traffic was primarily specialised bulk freight, including mineral sands between Hopetoun, Hamilton and Portland in the state's west; export rice between Deniliqiun and the Port of Melbourne; paper between Australian Paper Mills in Maryvale and Melbourne; and steel to BlueScope steel plants at Hastings and Somerton. Companies The first railways in Victoria were operated by private companies, but when the companies failed or defaulted, the state government took over. The government agency was known as the "Department of Railways" from 1856 to 1883, when the Victorian Railways Commissioners Act established the Victorian Railways. In 1973 the Railways (Amendment) Act 1972 passed management of the Railways from the Victorian Railways Commissioners to a Victorian Railways Board. In 1976 the railways were rebranded as VicRail. In 1983, VicRail was split into the State Transport Authority for country rail and road, passenger and freight services under the V/Line brand; and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, taking over suburban passenger operations. In 1989, these authorities were merged