Transperth Trains (Perth)Transperth Trains (Perth) Transperth Trains is a division of Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. It is responsible for operating Perth’s urban passenger rail system, as part of the Transperth network. Transperth Trains History The Fremantle to Guildford line commenced operating as a steam-powered service in March 1881, followed by the Perth to Armadale line in May 1889, and the Perth to Joondalup line (now Butler) in 1993 and the Perth to Mandurah line in December 2007. The Fremantle line service ceased in September 1979 but was reinstated in July 1983. Diesel trains were used on the rail network until the three lines then in service, the Armadale, Fremantle and Midland, were electrified in the early 1990s. The first service with the A-series train was introduced in September 1991, with regular services beginning on the Armadale line on 7 October 1991. The Midland and Fremantle lines commenced service with the then-new A-series trains in December 1991. The conversion from diesel to electric trains was accompanied by many upgrades to the rail network, such as upgrades to stations and tracks, and the cost of the undertaking was estimated at around $109 million. Northern Suburbs Transit System Further information: Northern Suburbs Transit System The Northern Suburbs Transit System was the name given to the project to provide high-speed passenger rail services to the northern corridor of metropolitan Perth. To service the expanding northern suburbs, Joondalup line was built in the median of the Mitchell Freeway in the early 1990s, after several years of planning. The line was later extended to Currambine in 1993, to Clarkson in 2004 and Butler in 2014. Mandurah Line Legislation for the construction of the Mandurah Line was passed in December 1999. The original proposed route branched from the Armadale line at Kenwick, and then ran alongside the freight lines until Jandakot where it would run in the middle of the Kwinana Freeway. However, a bill passed in November 2002 after a change of state government saw that the route would start at Perth, traverse the Kwinana Freeway, and then continue along its initial route after Jandakot. Construction of the line started in February 2004 and it opened on 23 December 2007. Thornlie Spur Because the government did not begin its review of the Mandurah Line masterplan until after construction had begun, the tunnel under the Roe Highway had already been constructed. To make use of the new tunnel, the government decided to convert this section into a small spur line to Thornlie. It was decided that Armadale trains would alternate with Thornlie trains, with the Thornlie trains stopping at all stations and Armadale trains only stopping at Oats Street and Cannington stations. Thornlie station opened on 7 August 2005. New MetroRail In 2003, the government launched the New MetroRail program as the official name of the upgrades to the rail network. This program included the following projects:
Transperth Trains Future Expansion In the 2009–10 state budget funding was allocated for extending the Joondalup line north to Butler, with construction scheduled to start in 2010. In addition, the Airport Masterplan calls for a spur line from the Midland Line to connect to Perth Airport. The line would deviate between Bayswater and Ashfield stations, run through the suburb of Redcliffe. While this link has been the subject of studies and plans since at least 2008 and appeared in the PTA 2010 report it has disappeared entirely from the 2011 report. A link to Ellenbrook had been promised by Premier Alan Carpenter and Opposition Leader Colin Barnett prior to the 2008 elections however this had evaporated by 2011. But it was back in 2017 and budgeted for with other projects by the Mark McGowan government. Former Premier Alan Carpenter had announced a study on the feasibility of a high-speed rail service running from Perth to the south city of Bunbury as a replacement of the current Australind train service. The study stated a new line could be built just after Cockburn Central station on the Mandurah line, then following the Kwinana Freeway south to the new Perth-Bunbury Highway and following the highway until it reaches Bunbury. In 2011, the Public Transport Authority announced that the Joondalup line would be extended to Butler. Butler opened on 21 September 2014. In August 2014, the government announced the Forrestfield-Airport Link would be constructed providing a service to Perth Airport and Forrestfield.Construction commenced officially in November 2016, with the line due to open in 2020. Transperth Trains Current system Transperth Route Transperth runs five train lines with one spur line. These lines are: Armadale/Thornlie line – goes in a south-east direction to Armadale. The Australind continues along the same track to Bunbury. A spur line to Thornlie station opened on 8 August 2005. Fremantle line – goes in a westerly direction towards Fremantle. Major stations include Subiaco and Claremont. When trains arrive at Perth station they continue through to the Midland Line. Joondalup line – goes in a northern direction, on the Mitchell Freeway central reservation, before moving eastward near Eddystone Avenue through to Joondalup, then returning to the Mitchell Freeway reserve and continuing towards Clarkson. The line then continues currently as a two single track split up at Nowergup depot, then merge back and continues to Butler. When trains on the Joondalup line arrive at Perth station, they continue through to the Mandurah line. Future expansion plans provide for the extension of the line to Yanchep. Mandurah line – goes in a southward direction, on the Kwinana Freeway central reservation until Kwinana, then curving south-west towards Rockingham and then south to Mandurah. When trains on the Mandurah line arrive at Perth station, they continue through to the Joondalup line. Midland line – goes east towards Midland. Transwa services diverge and continue to Kalgoorlie (the Prospector) and to Merredin (the AvonLink). When trains arrive at Perth they continue through to the Fremantle Line. All of the above services except the Prospector and AvonLink run on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge tracks. The Prospector and AvonLink run on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge tracks and takes the same route as the Midland line services. Consequently, the track between East Perth and Midland is dual gauge. Stations Transperth Serves the Following Railway Stations: Armadale/Thornlie Line 20 stations Perth Bus transfer Transwa Free Transit Zone McIver Free Transit Zone Claisebrook Free Transit Zone Swan River Perth Stadium formerly Belmont Park Special event station Burswood Victoria Park Carlisle Oats Street Bus transfer CircleRoute Welshpool Queens Park Cannington Bus transfer Beckenham Canning River Thornlie Bus transfer Kenwick Maddington Bus transfer Canning River Gosnells Bus transfer Seaforth Kelmscott Bus transfer Challis Sherwood Armadale Bus transfer Transwa ************** Fremantle Line 17 stations Perth Bus transfer Transwa Free Transit Zone City West Free Transit Zone West Leederville Subiaco Bus transfer Daglish Shenton Park Bus transfer CircleRoute Karrakatta Loch Street Showgrounds Special events only Special event station Claremont Bus transfer Swanbourne Grant Street Cottesloe Bus transfer Mosman Park Victoria Street North Fremantle Swan River Fremantle ******************* Joondalup Line 13 stations Yanchep Eglinton Alkimos Brighton Butler Bus transfer Clarkson Bus transfer Currambine Joondalup Bus transfer Edgewater Whitfords Bus transfer Greenwood Warwick Bus transfer Stirling Bus transfer CircleRoute Glendalough Bus transfer Leederville Perth Bus transfer Transwa Free Transit Zone Elizabeth Quay Bus transfer ****************** Mandurah Line 12 stations Perth Bus transfer Transwa Free Transit Zone Elizabeth Quay Bus transfer Free Transit Zone Swan River South Perth (proposed) Canning Bridge Bus transfer Canning River Bull Creek Bus transfer Murdoch Bus transfer CircleRoute Cockburn Central Bus transfer Aubin Grove Bus transfer Mandogalup Kwinana Bus transfer Wellard Bus transfer Rockingham Bus transfer Warnbro Bus transfer Secret Harbour Lakelands Mandurah Bus transfer *********************** Midland Line 15 stations Midland Bus transfer Transwa Indian Pacific Woodbridge East Guildford Guildford Swan River Success Hill Bassendean Bus transfer Ashfield Forrestfield Airport Central Perth Airport Redcliffe Swan River Bayswater Bus transfer CircleRoute Meltham Maylands Mount Lawley East Perth Transwa Indian Pacific Claisebrook Free Transit Zone McIver Free Transit Zone Perth ************ Transperth Trains Patronage Year Patronage ±% 2003–04 31,114,975 — 2004–05 32,652,117 +4.9% 2005–06 34,132,593 +4.5% 2006–07 35,757,833 +4.8% 2007–08 42,636,075 +19.2% 2008–09 54,749,770 +28.4% 2009–10 56,408,742 +3.0% 2010–11 58,867,780 +4.4% 2011–12 63,029,878 +7.1% 2012–13 65,689,337 +4.2% 2013–14 63,491,683 −3.3% 2014–15 64,224,895 +1.2% Source: The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia Transperth Patronage Below is the annual patronage of each railway line as of the 2014/15 financial year. Figures are provided as total boardings, which includes all fare-paying boardings and free travel on stations within the free transit zones as well as transfers between stations. The figures for rail replacement and special events services are included in the total but not allocated to any railway line. Transperth Trains Annual Patronage (2014–2015) Railway Line/Services: Mandurah Patronage: 20,699,900 %: 32% Railway Line/Services: Joondalup Patronage: 17,105,797 %: 27% Railway Line/Services: Armadale/Thornlie Patronage: 9,066,797 %: 14% Railway Line/Services: Fremantle Patronage: 8,228,255 %: 13% Railway Line/Services: Midland Patronage: 6,661,434 %: 10% Railway Line/Services: Rail replacement/special services Patronage: 2,462,712 %: 4% Total annual patronage 100% 64,224,895 Transperth Trains Transit Type The Transperth Train system is generally regarded as a Commuter Rail system, however it shares many similarities with Rapid Transit systems, including high frequency services (Every 5 minutes from 2-6 pm on the Joondalup/Mandurah lines), short distances between stations (less than 2 km on Midland/Fremantle lines) and high capacity, single deck electric multiple unit trains with fast acceleration. The frequency of service on the Mandurah and Joondalup lines makes Transperth the most frequent suburban rail system in Australia. Trains on the new Sydney Metro rapid transit system will run every 4 minutes in peak periods when it opens in 2019, surpassing the Transperth network. The train system can be described as a mixture between Metro and Commuter rail systems, or an S-Bahn style of service. The system is clearly divergent from other commuter rail networks, such as those in North America, of which "many, but not all, newer commuter railways offer service during peak times only" Transperth Trains Fleet Transperth Current Fleet
Note: All first and second generation B-series are being upgraded and renumbered to resemble the third generation. A-series EMU The A-series electric multiple-unit sets are two-car trains with a driver’s cab at each end. They were built by ABB and Walkers in Maryborough, Queensland. The A-series sets were built for the electrification of Perth’s suburban railway system in the early 1990s and the Joondalup line, which was being constructed in the same period. The first was delivered on 1 September 1990. The original order for 43 first-generation trains were followed by an additional order for 5 second-generation trains due to the Joondalup line exceeding passenger estimates. Delivered in 1998, the second-generation trains differ in having LED screens and other upgrades to security and accessibility. A-series sets can be coupled to form four or six carriage sets. B-series EMU Introduced in October 2004, the B-series are the newest electric trains to operate in Perth. They were built by Bombardier Transportation and Downer Rail in Maryborough, Queensland, and operate on the Joondalup and Mandurah lines. Each sets consists of three carriages. The powered 'A' and 'B' cars each have a driver’s cab, while the central 'T' car is entirely devoted to passengers, and supplies power from overhead lines to the powered cars. The B-series trains operate as three, six and nine carriage sets. They have a top speed of 130 km/h. On 19 September 2006 Premier Alan Carpenter, announced that the Public Transport Authority would purchase another 15 new 3-car sets from the EDI Rail-Bombardier Transportation joint venture. The first three B-series railcar sets were introduced on 28 June 2009 and have allowed some of the A-series trains to be transferred to the Midland-Fremantle line. As more sets become available, they will allow the remaining two-car A-series trains currently being used on the Perth-Butler line to increase total capacity for the Armadale-Perth and Midland-Fremantle services, with an overall increase of 3,900 passengers, or more than 30%. By January 2016 66 sets will be in service. Transperth Trains Diesel Locomotive Transperth purchased a GE U20C, originally from Kereta Api Indonesia, from Greentrains in 2014 for use as a shunter at Claisebrook depot. Transperth Trains Future fleet Main article: Transperth C-series train 50 new six carriage trains are planned to enter service between 2018 and 2028. Transperth Trains Past fleet Transperth operated diesel multiple units prior to the introduction of electric trains in 1992.
Two sets of SX carriages were leased from Queensland Rail in 1986. They were originally intended for use during the 1987 America's Cup but remained in Perth until 1991. Following the separation from Westrail, Transperth retained an MA class diesel-hydraulic locomotive for shunting at Claisebrook depot. It was withdrawn in 2014. Transperth Trains Depots Transperth trains run from two main depots and one minor depot:
Transperth Trains Overview Owner: Public Transport Authority Locale: Perth Transit Type: Commuter Rail Number of Lines: 7 Number of Stations: 70 (3 underground) Annual Ridership: 64.2 million (June 2015) Began Operation 1998 Operator(s): Transperth System Length: 180.8 km (112.3 mi) Track Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | |||||
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