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Armadale line

The Armadale line is a partially-closed suburban railway service in Perth, Western Australia, operated by the Public Transport Authority as part of the Transperth system. The Armadale line is 30.4 kilometres (18.9 mi) long, and starts at Perth station, heading south-east of there to serve Perth's south-eastern suburbs, terminating at Armadale station. Since November 2023, the line has been closed from Victoria Park station to Armadale for the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project and Byford extension.

Armadale line
Electric multiple unit train at elevated train station with side platforms with small shelters on each platform
A Transperth B-series train at Cannington station
Overview
Other name(s)Armadale Line (official)
StatusPartially closed
OwnerPublic Transport Authority
LocalePerth, Western Australia
Termini
Continues fromSouth Western Railway
Stations21
Service
TypeSuburban rail
SystemTransperth
Operator(s)Transperth Train Operations
Depot(s)Claisebrook railcar depot
Rolling stockTransperth A-series trains, Transperth B-series trains
Ridership3,878,183 (year to June 2024)
History
Opened22 May 1893 (22 May 1893)
Technical
Line length30.4 km (18.9 mi)
Number of tracks2
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)
SignallingFixed block signalling
Train protection systemAutomatic train protection
Route map

Legend
km
Yanchep Line / Fremantle Line
00.0
 Perth
00.0
Mandurah Line
Barrack Street Bridge
Perth Siding
Moore Street crossing (closed)
00.9
McIver
Lord Street flyover
01.3
 Claisebrook
00.0
Airport Line / Midland Line
Airport Line / Midland Line
East Parade flyover
River siding
Goongoongup Bridge
Victoria Park Drive
3.2
 Perth Stadium
04.8
Burswood
Great Eastern Highway
Victoria Park turnback
06.0
 Victoria Park
(former)
06.2
Victoria Park
06.5
 Lathlain
Millers crossing
Archer St/Mint St crossing
07.4
 Carlisle
08.2
Oats Street
Oats Street crossing
Welshpool Road crossing
09.5
Welshpool
Leach Highway flyover
Hamilton Street crossing
11.4
Queens Park
Wharf Street crossing
12.2
Cannington
Gerard Street flyover
Cannington siding
Beckenham Substation
Neutral section
13.8
Beckenham
William Street crossing
00.0
Thornlie spur
Neutral section
Thornlie Spur only
Roe Highway
00.0
Kwinana Railway
Kenwick Link
Canning River
Spencer Road
17.0
Thornlie
Nicholson Road
 Nicholson Road
Ranford Road
 Ranford Road
Wanaping Road crossing
Thornlie–Cockburn Link
 
15.8
 Kenwick
00.0
Kenwick Junction
Austin Avenue crossing
17.7
Maddington
Canning Park Racecourse
Kelvin Road crossing
Albany Highway crossing
Stokely station
Jenna Bidi Bridge
over Canning River
Fremantle Road crossing
Main Street crossing
21.0
Gosnells
Dorothy Street crossing
21.2
 Gosnells
(former)
Verna Street crossing (closed)
22.6
Seaforth
Tonkin Highway flyover
Lake Road crossing (closed)
25.9
Kelmscott
Denny Avenue crossing (closed)
Davis Road
27.4
Challis
Streich Avenue crossing
28.1
Sherwood
Armadale Road crossing
Third Avenue crossing
30.1
 Armadale
Armadale Siding
Extent of
electrification
Church Ave crossing
Byron Road crossing
Eleventh Road crossing
Thomas Road
Larsen Road crossing
Abernerthy Road crossing
37.6
 Byford
under construction
South Western Railway
Railways in Perth
Airport
Armadale
Fremantle
Mandurah
Midland
Thornlie
Yanchep
List of Transperth stations
This diagram:

The Armadale line originated from suburban services along the South Western Railway in the 1890s. Suburban services were extended over the first half of the 20th century to eventually reach Armadale station. Diesel services commenced in 1954, which allowed for the opening of more stations closer together. Electrification occurred in the early 1990s, and in 2005, the Thornlie line opened as a branch of the Armadale line south of Beckenham. Since 20 November 2023, the Armadale line between Victoria Park and Armadale stations has been shut down for 18 months. The line is expected to re-open in mid-2025.

Before the shutdown, Armadale line services ran at four trains per hour during the day, rising to seven trains per hour during peak. Armadale line trains typically stopped at all stations between Armadale and Cannington and skipped most stations between Cannington and Perth, with the exception of Oats Street, Claisebrook, and McIver stations. Thornlie line trains instead stopped at all stations between Cannington and Perth. Transperth A-series trains are mainly used. The Armadale and Thornlie lines received 3,878,183 boardings in the 2023–24 financial year.

History

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The South Western Railway between Perth and Pinjarra, Western Australia, opened on 22 May 1893. An extension south to Bunbury opened on 22 August 1893. Services were operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR).[1] Initially, the railway saw limited passenger service; passenger cars were joined to freight trains. Suburban service did not exist at first, with trains going all the way to Bunbury.[2] By 1900, there were three daily suburban return services from Perth to Cannington, with Kelmscott and Armadale considered to be country towns, which were served by the daily train to and from Bunbury.[3] By 1906, there were suburban services along the South Western Railway as far as Maddington.[4] Seaforth station opened on 4 May 1948 as the line's first new station in several decades.[5][6]

Diesel railcars, starting with the WAGR ADG class, were introduced in 1954. These trains could manage closer stations than steam trains, so three new stations opened on 28 November 1954: Oats Street, Higham (now Beckenham), and Stokely (now closed) stations.[7][8][9] By 1954, suburban services ran as far as Armadale station. As the Armadale line was not as busy as the Fremantle and Midland lines, the Armadale line had a train every 40 minutes, as opposed to the other lines, which had trains every 20 minutes.[3]

Suburban development in Perth's southeast corridor rapidly increased following the adoption of the Metropolitan Region Scheme in 1961 and the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970.[3] Kingsley (now Sherwood) and Challis stations both opened in 1973 between Kelmscott and Armadale stations.[5][10] Only upon the 1979 closure of the Fremantle line was there enough rolling stock for Armadale line services to reach the frequency of Midland line services.[3] On 2 July 1980, a redeveloped Kelmscott station opened, with a bus interchange on the station platform. This was an early example of a bus-train interchange that would become commonplace on the Yanchep and Mandurah lines that were constructed later.[5][11]

Transperth was adopted as the Metropolitan Transport Trust's trading name in 1986. The Armadale line was electrified in the early 1990s, with the electric Transperth A-series trains entering service in September 1991.[5] Stokely station was closed on 16 April 1989 as it was the Armadale line's least used station and it was close to Maddington station. Closing Lathlain station was proposed as well, but it remained open during electrification.[12] In 2003, the Public Transport Authority was formed to take over from WAGR and the Department of Transport.[5] Between 21 March 1993 and 8 August 2005, trains on the Armadale line continued through Perth to the Joondalup line (now known as the Yanchep line).

New MetroRail

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Main article: New MetroRail
 
Victoria Park station, opened in 2008

As part of New MetroRail in the 2000s, Carlisle and Victoria Park stations were upgraded, Lathlain station was closed on 3 February 2003, and the Miller Street bridge in Lathlain and the Gerard Street bridge in East Cannington were built to replace level crossings.[5][13] The Thornlie line, a spur of the Armadale line south of Beckenham station was also constructed. This opened on 7 August 2005.[14][15] A reconstructed Armadale station opened on 6 November 2004 and the new and relocated Victoria Park station open on 2 August 2008.[5]

Perth Stadium station

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Belmont Park station closed on 13 October 2013 to be replaced by Perth Stadium station, which opened on 2 December 2017 to serve Perth Stadium (known for sponsorship reasons as Optus Stadium). The station has six platforms and express services from the Fremantle and Yanchep lines also serve the station during events using the Armadale line tracks.[5][16] A weekend service was added in 2018 and trains began stopping seven days a week from 2 April 2024.[17]

Metronet

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Main article: Metronet (Western Australia)

As part of Metronet, the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project will elevate the Armadale line along sections between Victoria Park and Beckenham. Five stations will be rebuilt: Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington, and Beckenham stations, Welshpool station has been permanently closed, and six level crossings were removed.[18] Also occurring as part of Metronet is an extension of the Armadale line south to Byford.[19]

In February 2022, it was announced that an 18-month-long shutdown of the Armadale line would have to occur to construct the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project and the Byford extension. This shutdown was initially planned to begin in early-2023,[20][21][22] but was delayed in August 2022 to late-2023.[23][24] The shutdown, which closed the line between Victoria Park and Armadale stations, commenced on 20 November 2023 and is expected to end by mid-2025.[25][26]

The currently-budgeted cost for the Byford extension is $797 million, and the currently-budgeted cost for the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project is $1.047 billion.[27]

Description

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The Armadale line uses 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge track[28] and has a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph). Trains are powered by 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line equipment which is powered by substations in Beckenham and East Perth.[29]

The Armadale line uses fixed block signalling. As part of Metronet's High Capacity Signalling Project, the Transperth rail network will be upgraded to moving block signalling using communications-based train control (CBTC).[30][31] As of 2021, the CBTC system is planned to be implemented on the Armadale and Thornlie lines by June 2031.[32]

Route

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Transperth system map, with the Armadale and Thornlie lines in yellow. The proposed and under construction extensions to these lines are in grey.

Stations

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Key
Icon Purpose
† Under construction
^ Before the shutdown, Armadale line services usually skipped this station
Station Distance from Perth[29] Fare zone[33] Location[34] Opened Connections and notes
km mi
Perth 0.0 0.0 1/FTZ Perth 1881 Bus at Perth Busport
Australind, Airport, Fremantle, Mandurah, Midland, Thornlie and Yanchep lines[33]
McIver 0.7 0.4 1/FTZ Perth 1 September 1989[35] Airport, Midland and Thornlie lines[33]
Claisebrook 1.3 0.8 1/FTZ East Perth, Perth 1883[35] Airport, Midland and Thornlie lines[33]
Perth Stadium 3.3 2.1 1 Burswood 2 December 2017[16] Event services from Perth, Fremantle and Yanchep run during events at Perth Stadium.
Burswood^ 4.6 2.9 1 Burswood 1899[36] Thornlie line
Victoria Park^ 6.1 3.8 1 Lathlain, Victoria Park 1898[36][37] Thornlie line

Current terminus of all services as part of the Armadale Line Shutdown.

Carlisle^ 7.4 4.6 1 Carlisle, East Victoria Park 1912[38] Thornlie line

Being rebuilt as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal.

Oats Street 8.1 5.0 1 Carlisle, East Victoria Park 28 November 1954[7][9] Bus, Thornlie line[39]Being rebuilt as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal.
Queens Park^ 11.3 7.0 2 Cannington, Queens Park 1899[36][38] Thornlie line

Being rebuilt as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal.

Cannington 12.2 7.6 2 Cannington, East Cannington 1893[36][40] Bus, Thornlie line[39]Being rebuilt as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal.
Beckenham 13.6 8.5 2 Beckenham 28 November 1954[7][9] Being rebuilt as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal.
Kenwick 15.6 9.7 2 Kenwick 1914[36][38]
Maddington 17.6 10.9 2 Maddington 1896[36][38] Bus
Gosnells 20.7 12.9 3 Gosnells 1905[36][38] Bus
Seaforth 22.6 14.0 3 Gosnells 4 May 1948[5][41]
Kelmscott 25.8 16.0 3 Kelmscott 1893[36][38] Bus
Challis 27.3 17.0 3 Kelmscott 29 October 1973[5]
Sherwood 28.6 17.8 3 Armadale 1973[36][38]
Armadale 30.4 18.9 4 Armadale 1893 Bus, Australind

Being rebuilt as part of the Byford Rail Extension.

Byford† 38.3 23.8 4 Byford 2025 (planned) Bus, Australind

Former stations

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Station Location Opened Closed
Belmont Park Burswood 13 October 2013[42]
Lathlain Lathlain, Victoria Park 2 May 1959[5] 2 February 2003[43]
Welshpool Bentley, Welshpool 1898[5] 20 November 2023
Stokely Maddington 28 November 1954[7][9] 16 April 1989[12]

Service

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Trains operate between Perth and Victoria Park stopping at all stations. Services operate at a 7.5 minute frequency during the day, and every 15 minutes at night. Train services on the rest of the line will resume in 2025 when the Armadale Line Shutdown is completed.

Transperth train services are operated by the PTA's Transperth Train Operations division.[44] Before the start of the shutdown, Armadale line trains operated at four trains per hour during the day, rising to seven trains per hour during peak. At night, frequencies reduced to every half an hour, and every hour late at night. Armadale line trains typically stopped at all stations between Armadale and Cannington and skipped most stations between Cannington and Perth, with the exception of Oats Street, Claisebrook, and McIver stations. Thornlie line trains instead stopped at all stations between Cannington and Perth. Armadale line trains only stopped at all stations on Sundays when Thornlie line trains were less frequent, and late at night when Thornlie line trains do not operate. Operating hours were from roughly 5:00 am to 1:00 am, extending to 3:00 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.[39]

Rolling stock

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A Transperth A-series train at Armadale station

The Armadale line is served primarily by Transperth A-series trains, with Transperth B-series trains occasionally used as well. By 2031, it is planned that all A-series trains will be retired, leaving the Armadale line to be served primarily by B-series trains. The A-series trains were built between 1991 and 1999 and consist of two cars which are usually joined together to form four car trains. Each car has two doors on each side. The B-series trains were built between 2004 and 2019, consist of three cars each and have two doors on the side of each car. These trains are all primarily stored at Claisebrook depot.

Patronage

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The Armadale and Thornlie lines combined are the third most patronised Transperth lines, after the Mandurah line and the Yanchep line. The two lines combined received 3,878,183 boardings in the year to June 2024.[45]

Armadale/Thornlie line annual patronage
Year Patronage ±%
2010–11 8,838,049 —
2011–12 9,227,813 +4.41%
2012–13 9,667,987 +4.77%
2013–14 9,176,434 −5.08%
2014–15 9,066,797 −1.19%
2015–16 8,508,290 −6.16%
2016–17 7,385,888 −13.19%
2017–18 7,735,572 +4.73%
2018–19 7,983,379 +3.20%
2019–20 6,653,213 −16.66%
2020–21 5,768,087 −13.30%
2021–22 5,629,910 −2.40%
2022–23 6,626,803 +17.71%
2023–24 3,878,183 −41.48%

References

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  1. ^ Arnold 2006, p. 4.
  2. ^ Higham 2007, p. 21.
  3. ^ a b c d Higham 2007, p. 75.
  4. ^ Higham 2007, p. 73.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Our history". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Advertising". The West Australian. 1 May 1948. p. 24. Retrieved 20 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ a b c d "New Timetables for Suburbans". The Sunday Times. 21 November 1954. p. 6. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Advertising". The West Australian. 27 November 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 20 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ a b c d Higham 2007, p. 87.
  10. ^ "Historical timeline since settlement". City of Armadale. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  11. ^ MetroBus (1998), MetroBus Annual Report 1997–1998, pp. 41–68
  12. ^ a b "Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. 11 April 1989. p. 113. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Victoria Park Upgrades". New MetroRail. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.
  14. ^ "Thornlie line and station opening a major milestone for public transport network". Media Statements. 7 August 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  15. ^ "OnTrack: Issue 10" (PDF). New MetroRail. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2007.
  16. ^ a b "Perth Stadium Station now complete". Media Statements. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Trains now stopping at Perth Stadium precinct seven days a week". Media Statements. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project Definition Plan" (PDF). Metronet. August 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Byford Rail Extension Project Definition Plan" (PDF). Metronet. August 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  20. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (20 February 2022). "Armadale train line shutdown for 18 months for Metronet upgrades". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  21. ^ Al Jrood, Tabarak (20 February 2022). "Armadale rail line to close for 18 months as part of major Metronet upgrade". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  22. ^ "New METRONET legislation introduced to enable major projects". Media Statements. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. ^ "All aboard: date set for opening of METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link". Media Statements. 16 August 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  24. ^ Ho, Casson (16 August 2022). "Perth Airport rail line to open in October, as Forrestfield Metronet costs revealed to be $1.9 billion". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  25. ^ Becerra Mellet, Gabrielle (16 August 2023). "State Government announces start date for 18-month-long Armadale train line shutdown". PerthNow. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  26. ^ Brookes, Sarah (16 August 2023). "18-month closure: Armadale line shutdown date announced". WAtoday. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Annual Report 2022–2023" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. 2023. p. 81. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  28. ^ Laird, Philip. "Perth's urban rail renaissance". University of Wollongong. pp. 4, 7. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Manual – Rail Access" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. pp. 59–70, 116. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  30. ^ "High Capacity Signalling Fact Sheet" (PDF). Metronet. p. 2. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  31. ^ "METRONET: High Capacity Signalling". Infrastructure Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  32. ^ "HCS SWTR Book 1 – Scope of Works DRAFT 01-09-21_Redacted". Tenders WA. 30 September 2021. pp. 18, 77, 79, 120. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022. Click Download Now, then Download for Information Only. Make sure HCS SWTR Book 1 – Scope of Works DRAFT 01-09-21_Redacted.pdf is selected, then click Download Documents.
  33. ^ a b c d "Transperth Zone Map" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Google Maps". Google. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  35. ^ a b "History of Stations on the Midland Line" (PDF). Right Track. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i "History of Stations on the Armadale Train Line" (PDF). Right Track. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008.
  37. ^ Arnold 2006, p. 11.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g Arnold 2006, p. 12.
  39. ^ a b c "Armadale/Thornlie Line Train Timetable" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  40. ^ City of Canning. "Cannington Railway Station (fmr)". inHerit. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  41. ^ "Railway Notice". The West Australian. 1 May 1948. p. 24. Retrieved 27 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "Last train to Belmont Park station". Public Transport Authority. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  43. ^ "Lathlain Station Closure". Transperth. Archived from the original on 19 April 2003.
  44. ^ "Transperth". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  45. ^ a b "Transport performance". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 29 August 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Arnold, John (2006). A History of Bringing the Rails to Pinjarra: The Southwest Railway of Western Australia. ISBN 978-0-646-14228-9.
  • Higham, Geoffrey (2007). Marble Bar to Mandurah: A History of Passenger Rail Services in Western Australia. Rail Heritage WA. ISBN 0-9599690-9-8.
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