Airport line, Perth

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Airport line
Airport Central railway station under construction, May 2020 04.jpg
Airport Central railway station under construction, May 2020
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
SystemTransperth
Statusplanned
LocalePerth, Western Australia
First serviceFirst half of 2022 (planned)
Current operator(s)Transperth Train Operations
Websitewww.forrestfieldairportlink.wa.gov.au
Route
StartHigh Wycombe
Stops20
EndClaremont
Distance travelled25.4 km
Technical
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Airport line is a future commuter rail service on the Transperth network, in Perth, Western Australia. The service is planned to commence in the first half of 2022. It is 25.4 kilometres (15.8 mi) long, and goes between High Wycombe and Claremont, via Perth Airport and Bayswater. The section between High Wycombe and Bayswater will use all new infrastructure, built between 2016 and 2022. In contrast, the section between Bayswater and Perth will share infrastructure with the Midland and Morley–Ellenbrook lines, and the section between Perth and Claremont with the Fremantle Line.

The new infrastructure between High Wycombe and Bayswater was constructed as part of the Forrestfield-Airport Link project, the purpose of which was to provide a rail service to the airport and to the areas east of the airport. It consists of 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of twin-bored tunnel; the longest bored tunnels in Perth. As part of the project, three new stations were constructed, namely Redcliffe, Airport Central, and High Wycombe.

History[]

Forrestfield-Airport Link[]

In 2004, Perth Airport's twenty-year Master Plan proposed a rail link to connect with the Midland Line between Bayswater and Ashfield stations at the Tonkin Highway. The rail link was proposed to continue above ground along Tonkin Highway to the Great Eastern Highway where it is believed it would go underground along Brearley Avenue and to the terminals in operation at completion of the line.[1]

In December 2013, the Government of Western Australia announced its intention to construct a railway line to Forrestfield via Perth Airport.[2] In August 2014, the scheme was endorsed by the Cabinet.[3][4][5]

The state government formally approved the project in August 2014.[6]

In March 2015, it was announced five parties had lodged Expressions of Interest to build the line:[7]

A shortlist of Forrestfield Connect, JHL Joint Venture and SI-NRW Joint Venture was announced in April 2015.[9] In January 2016, the SI-NRW Joint Venture was named as the preferred tenderer. They were awarded the $1.176 billion contract for the design, construction, and 10 years maintenance, in April 2016.[6] Construction on the project commenced on 3 November 2016.[10][11][12]

The first tunnel boring machine (TBM) started tunnelling from High Wycombe on 30 July 2017. The TBM was named Grace, after a local girl who was undergoing treatment for leukaemia.[13] The second TBM started tunnelling from High Wycombe in October 2017. This TBM was named Sandy, after sandgroper, a digging insect native to Western Australia, and a nickname for Western Australians.[14]

In December 2018, Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announced that the project's opening had been delayed to mid-2021 due to numerous problems encountered by the project, including a sinkhole, flooding, the TBMs moving slower than expected and two workplace incidents related to the project. Despite this, the project budget of $1.8 billion remained the same.[15]

On 18 February 2020, TBM Grace reached the Bayswater tunnel dive structure, the end of the tunnel.[16] On 20 April 2020, TBM Sandy reached the Bayswater tunnel dive structure, marking the completion of tunnelling for the project.[17]

Originally conceived as the Forrestfield-Airport Link,[18] the rail service will be named Airport Line when it commences. Additionally, Forrestfield Station was renamed to High Wycombe Station.[19]

After initially denying that construction was behind schedule, Saffioti said in May 2021 that the planned completion date of the line had been again pushed back, this time to the first half of 2022. She put the delay down to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a delay in the production of steel and other materials, however the project will still come in on budget due to contingencies in the contract.[20][21][22]

In July, the head contractors commenced legal action against GHD Group, alleging it was negligent in failing to prepare an adequate design concept. The contractors, Webuild and NRW claimed they suffered a loss in the construction of the railway line as a result of GHD breaching the tender design agreement.[23]

On 16 July 2021, track laying was completed. Installation of the overhead conductor rail and overhead line equipment is still continuing as of July 2021, as is the final fit-out of the three stations on the line.[24][25][26]

Other works[]

In order for trains of the Airport Line to turn around at Claremont, a turnback was installed west of Claremont Station. The station also underwent an upgrade. This project was expected to be complete by the end of 2021.[needs update][27]

To aid with Airport Line operations, a turnback will be installed west of Bayswater Station. Bayswater is also undergoing an upgrade.[28][29]

The Caledonian Avenue level crossing between Meltham and Maylands stations will close in the first half of 2022, as the addition of the Airport Line will make this level crossing too busy.[30]

Route[]

The new Airport Line will diverge from Transperth's existing Midland Line near Bayswater Station and run in twin-bore tunnels, initially paralleling the Tonkin Highway, then running under the Swan River to reach Perth Airport.[31] It will continue in tunnels under the airport, before emerging to terminate at a new bus-rail interchange at High Wycombe.[4][5]

From Bayswater in the other direction, the Airport Line will share infrastructure with the Midland Line towards Perth. West of Perth, the line will continue, sharing infrastructure with the Fremantle Line until Claremont, where the Airport Line will terminate.[32]

Transperth system map, with the Airport line highlighted

Stations[]

The new Airport Line will service the three new stations being built, as well as the stations between Bayswater and Claremont currently serviced by the Midland and Fremantle lines only.[4][5][33]

Key
Icon Purpose
Under construction Under construction
§ Special events station
Station Distance from Perth[34] Fare zone[35] Suburbs served Opened Connections
km mi
High WycombeUnder construction 16.0 9.9 2 High Wycombe 2022 (planned) Bus transfers
Airport CentralUnder construction 13.5 8.4 2 Perth Airport 2022 (planned)
RedcliffeUnder construction 10.8 6.7 2 Redcliffe, Perth Airport 2022 (planned) Bus transfers
Bayswater 6.8 4.2 1 Bayswater 1896 Bus transfers
Train transfer to the Midland line
Meltham 5.5 3.4 1 Bayswater 1948
Maylands 4.5 2.8 1 Maylands 1896
Mount Lawley 3.2 2.0 1 Mount Lawley 1907
East Perth 2.1 1.3 1 East Perth, Perth 1969 Transfers to the AvonLink, MerredinLink, Prospector, Transwa coaches and Indian Pacific
Claisebrook 1.3 0.8 1/FTZ East Perth, Perth 1883 Train transfers to the Armadale/Thornlie Line
McIver 0.7 0.4 1/FTZ Perth 1989 Train transfers to the Armadale/Thornlie Line
Perth 0.0 0.0 1/FTZ Perth 1881 Bus transfers at Perth Busport
Train transfers to Australind, Armadale/Thornlie, Joondalup and Mandurah lines
City West 1.6 1.0 1/FTZ West Perth 1986
West Leederville 2.7 1.7 1 Subiaco, West Leederville 1897
Subiaco 3.6 2.2 1 Subiaco 1883 Bus transfers
Daglish 4.9 3.0 1 Daglish, Subiaco 1924
Shenton Park 6.0 3.7 1 Shenton Park 1908 Bus transfers
Karrakatta 7.6 4.7 1 Karrakatta 1886
Loch Street 8.0 5.0 1 Claremont, Karrakatta 1954
Showgrounds§ 8.7 5.4 1 Claremont 1954
Claremont 9.4 5.8 1 Claremont 1886 Bus transfers

Timetable[]

On 22 September 2021, the frequency of the Airport Line upon opening was revealed to be five trains per hour, or a train every 12 minutes, during peak, and four trains per hour, or a train every 15 minutes, between peak. The frequency of the Midland and Fremantle lines will decrease as well from six trains per hour during peak to five trains per hour.[36]

References[]

  1. ^ "Public Transport Link Option, 2024 Masterplan, Perth Airport". Westrailia Airports Corporation. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  2. ^ "Treasurer Troy Buswell says airport link could be built entirely underground". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ Barnett, Colin; Nalder, Dean (9 August 2014). "8km Forrestfield-Airport Link tunnel revealed". Media Statements of the Government of Western Australia (Media statement). Western Australia: Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Perth airport rail link approved". Railway Gazette International. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Forrestfield-Airport Link" (PDF). Public Transport Authority (WA). August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b "About". Forrestfield–Airport link. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  7. ^ EOIs received for Forrestfield-Airport Link Government of Western Australia 18 March 2015
  8. ^ Forrestfield-Airport Link EOI open Minister for Transport 29 January 2015
  9. ^ Kakulas, Vetti (30 April 2015). "Perth Airport rail link: Firms short-listed for design, construction". Perth Now. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  10. ^ Preferred respondent for new rail line announced Public Transport Authority 18 February 2016
  11. ^ Forrestfield airport rail link to be built by Italian firm ABC News 18 February 2016
  12. ^ Construction starts on Forrestfield-Airport link Government of Western Australia 18 November 2016
  13. ^ "TBM Grace is a go!". Metronet. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  14. ^ "All systems go with second TBM". Metronet. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Perth Airport link delayed by one year after sinkhole". ABC News. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Breaking new ground on Forrestfield-Airport Link". Metronet. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Tunnelling complete on Forrestfield Airport-Link". Metronet. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Forrestfield Airport Link > Home". Forrestfield-Airport Link. Public Transport Authority. 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  19. ^ Community names new Metronet station High Wycombe Minister for Transport 26 June 2020
  20. ^ "Joint media statement - METRONET Bayswater Junction hits the switch". Media Statements. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  21. ^ Hastie, Hamish. "WA's biggest rail project to be nearly two years overdue after more delays". WAtoday. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  22. ^ Law, Peter. "McGowan Government refuses to deny completion of Perth's airport rail link could be pushed back to 2022". The West Australian. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  23. ^ Burton, Jesinta. "Webuild, NRW sue GHD over $1.86bn Airport Link works". Business News. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  24. ^ Stone, Caitlyn. "Forrestfield-Airport track complete". Business News. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Joint media statement - Track laying complete on METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link". Media Statements. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  26. ^ Lowther, Amber. "Major Step Forward For The Forrestfield-Airport Link With Last Piece Of Track Laid". Hit. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Claremont Station Project". Metronet. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  28. ^ "New Bayswater Station". Metronet. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Bayswater Station Associated Rail infrastructure" (PDF). Metronet. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Caledonian Avenue Level Crossing Removal". Metronet. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Forrestfield-Airport Link Rail Route". Public Transport Authority. 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Project overview" (PDF). Forrestfield–Airport link. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  33. ^ "Construction overview". Forrestfield-Airport Link. Public Transport Authority. 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  34. ^ "Manual – Rail Access" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. 30 August 2021. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Transperth Zone Map" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Planning underway on Airport Line connecting bus and train services". Media Statements. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.

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