Mandurah railway line, Perth

The Mandurah Railway Line is an interurban railway line, running through the south western suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. Partly located in the median of the Kwinana Freeway, the line connects Perth with Western Australia's second largest city,Fact|date=April 2008 Mandurah. The line opened on December 23, 2007.cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22736361-2761,00.html|title=Perth to Mandurah railway line open soon]

History

Legislation for the construction of the Mandurah Line was passed in December 1999.cite web|url=http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=1823|title=PTA History at a Glance, 1976 to 2000] 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.cite web|url=http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=1824|title=PTA History at a Glance, 2001 to Present] This second route was much more direct, and allowed through services with the Joondalup Line. However, the second direct route was more costly than the original indirect route.

Construction of the line started in February 2004. The contract for the city centre works, including the tunnels, was awarded to a joint venture of Leighton Contractors and Kumagai Gumi. The contractors used a Tunnel Boring Machine manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.PDFlink| [http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/NMR/Documents/Resources/Publications/Brouchures/Brochure%20-%20TBM.pdf Brochure - Tunnel Boring Machine] |329 KiB ] The first tunnel was completed on June 3, 2006,cite web|url=http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=2127|title=First of twin rail tunnels completed] and the second tunnel was completed on October 27, 2006.cite web|url=http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/media/media.nsf/news/63ECA7DA2A95051C48257214000FFAC4?opendocument|title=Final breakthrough of CBD tunnel achieves engineering feat]

Between 2004 and 2006, the Leighton Kumagai Joint Venture (LKJV) was affected by a series of industrial disputes involving the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union. This culminated in the prosecution of 107 workers for taking illegal industrial action, by the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Prosecution of "the Perth 107" became a national and international cause celebre, in part because it occurred as the Federal Government's unrelated WorkChoices reforms were taking place. The government attracted criticism from the political left and union leaders around the world, including the International Labour Organization.Fact|date=December 2007

The line was proposed to be opened on July 29, 2007,cite web|url=http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=77|title=New MetroRail: Southern Suburbs Railway] but was not complete by that date.

From October 7, 2007 to October 14, a planned shutdown of the whole Fremantle Line and partial closure of the Joondalup Line between Perth and Leederville stations was undertaken to allow workers to connect the Mandurah Line to the Joondalup Line. On October 8 there was considerable publicity about delays experienced by commuters. This was mainly due to signalling problems associated with works for the shutdown week.cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22548833-2761,00.html|title=Free travel on Joondalup line as chaos hits Perth] As a result of the problems on October 8 and October 9, passengers on the Joondalup line were given free travel from first service until 8:00am.cite web|url=http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/ServiceInfo/ServiceDisruptions/tabid/128/newsid563/334/Default.aspx|title=Important information for Joondalup Line passengers] On October 15, the Perth Underground and Esplanade stations were opened. On this day, the railway also carried its first passengers with the extension of Joondalup Line services to Esplanade station. [cite web|url=http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=2422|title=Perth’s new underground railway stations ready for action|author=Public Transport Authority|date=2007-10-14|accessdate=2008-01-13]

On November 9, 2007, the first train crossed Narrows Bridge to Rockingham station, testing the new railway line at around 7:30am with a driver and a group of engineers. After the line testing completed, driver training was undertaken.

The line was officially opened on December 23 2007, with the first train carrying 1500 passengers, including 1000 members of the public selected by ballot. [cite web |url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=52023 |title=1500 people take the first Perth to Mandurah train journey |accessdate=2007-12-23 ] To celebrate, all Transperth bus, train and ferry services were free. On December 24 2007, new routes and schedules took effect on many services, including the Mandurah Line.cite web|url=http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/DestinationMandurah/tabid/300/Default.aspx|title=DESTINATION MANDURAH|accessdate=2007-12-12]

The line replaced bus services which previously travelled along the freeway to the city, which now terminate at Mandurah Line stations. The exception is Canning Highway services, which will stop at Canning Bridge station before continuing to the city.cite web|url=http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/DestinationMandurah/Stationinformation/CanningBridgeBullCreekMurdoch/tabid/303/Default.aspx|title=Destination: Canning Bridge, Bull Creek and Murdoch|accessdate=2007-12-16]

Extension

A possible extension to Erskine might take place, to turn into Mandurah/Old Coast Road and turn off into Erskine.Fact|date=April 2008

Depot

The Mandurah Rail Depot, Perth is located immediately north of Mandurah station.Fact|date=April 2008

Train stations

*For the station name:
**Red denotes Perth CBD stations.
**Orange denotes Mandurah line stations.
**Black denotes terminuses.
*For the zones, see Transperth fare zone. FTZ stands for Free Transit Zone.
*For the patterns, see next section.
*The section between the Perth underground and Esplanade stations is considered to be part of both the Joondalup and Mandurah Lines.

topping patterns

* All - all stops to Mandurah.
* C - does not stop at Canning Bridge.
* K - "(to Rockingham)" all stops to Cockburn Central, then express to Rockingham.
* K - "(to Perth)" departs from Rockingham, all stops to Perth.
* W - all stops to Cockburn Central.

ee also

*New MetroRail
*Transperth
*Transperth Trains
*List of Perth railway stations

References