Passenger Rail, Events, Major Projects & Infrastructure

Another Perth line for temporary shutdown

Another Perth train line will shut down temporarily, with the Midland Line to cease operations for 24 days from September 23 to facilitate major works on the new Bayswater Station.

In that time, about 1.8 kilometres of track and other rail systems will be removed and replaced, while the existing Leake Street pedestrian underpass will be expanded and work continued on the new Bayswater Bridge.

The shutdown will have some impacts on the Airport Line, the Prospector, AvonLink and MerredinLink services, and the Indian Pacific train, with Transwa services to leave from Midland Station during the closure.

Following the shutdown, the first portion of the new Bayswater Station will open for passengers to enjoy modern passenger facilities.

Stakeholder engagement and a linewide passenger survey will begin Tuesday, April 19, to better understand the disruption’s potential impacts and plan train replacement services accordingly.

The community can also provide their suggestions and feedback at buildingfortomorrow.wa.gov.au.

More than 340 people have had their say on how the Old Bayswater Bridge might be farewelled when it is removed later this year.

Ideas ranging from festivals to video montages, food markets and staged truck drivebys will feed into planning to mark the 1960s bridge’s removal.

More details about the final community farewell will be released closer to the date.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti acknowledged the closure would be inconvenient, so “we will be out talking to people from early next week to help us plan replacement services”.

“Once the Midland Line has re-opened we will be able to set a date for a community farewell to the infamous Bayswater Bridge,” she said.

“The celebration will be after Bayswater passengers have started using the new platforms.

“We know these disruptions are challenging, but we are setting up WA’s transport network for the future and providing more opportunities for local businesses, local jobs, including apprenticeships and traineeships.”

The major Armadale line is already due to be shut down for 18 months to accommodate planned expansion works.