Transwa Prospector

The Transwa Prospector is a standard-gauge passenger train operated by Transwa that runs between Perth, Western Australia, and the Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie.

History

The Prospector replaced the narrow-gauge overnight passenger train called the The Westland that ran on the older Eastern Railway route. The original Prospector railcars first entered service in November 1971. These Comeng-built units consisted of five power cars WCA901 through WCA905, and three non-powered trailers WCE921 through WCE923. They cut the 14 hour journey to 8 hours, and travelled more than 20 million kilometres and 2.6 million passengers over their 32 years life. [cite web
url=http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=45
title=Transwa - Prospector
publisher=www.transwa.wa.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-25] The original railcars being retired on 29 July 2005, and in 2008 they were purchased by C.D. Dodd Scrap Metal Recyclers and are now stored at their Forrestfield property. [cite web
url=http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11340939-0-asc-s0.htm
title=Old Prospector cars in Kewdale - Railpage Australia Forums
publisher=www.railpage.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-25]

A new new-generation of railcars entered service on 28 June 2004, costing $56 million. [cite web
url=http://kalgoorlie.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/prospector-enters-new-era/182699.aspx
title=Prospector enters new era - Local News - News - General -
work=The Golden Mail
date=2/07/2004
publisher=yourguide.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-25] The new railcars are built for a top speed of 200 km/h, but track conditions currently only allow a maximum speed of 160 km/h. [cite web
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_9_43/ai_109351765
title=Australia's fastest trains enter service
work=International Railway Journal
date=September 2003
publisher=findarticles.com
accessdate=2008-08-13] The new railcars were built by United Goninan at their factory in Broadmeadow, New South Wales, [cite web
url=http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=94
title=Transwa - Prospector track trails
publisher=www.transwa.wa.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-25] and consist of three driving cars WDA001 through WDA003, three driving cars without buffet WDB011 through WDB013, and an trailer car WDC021. These form two units of two cars, and a third which is three cars long; an additional two-car unit of the same design operates the AvonLink service.

The new Prospector railcars feature standard mains power outlets for passenger to connect of laptops and other equipment during the journey. For train crew they have a computerised operational status system, showing the identity of each carriage connected; as well as engine, brake and door control; and electricity supply. This computer system can reset passenger initiated or smoke detector alarms, and is viewable on the display in any driving compartment.

Stops

:"(as at August 2005)"
* East Perth Station
* Midland Station
* Toodyay
* Northam
* Cunderdin
* Tammin
* Kellerberrin
* Merredin
* Burracoppin
* Carrabin
* Bodallin
* Moorine Rock
* Southern Cross
* Bonnie Vale
* Kalgoorlie

ee also

*High-speed rail in Australia

References

Further reading

*"100th anniversary of rail link" (History of the Eastern Goldfields railway, officially completed on 1 January 1897, to the present, including introduction of the Prospector train on 29 November 1971) Kalgoorlie Miner 1 Jan. 1997, p. 2

External links

* [http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=45 Transwa: Prospector, Perth to Kalgoorlie train Service]