Midland line, Perth

Midland line
Midland line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Public Transport Authority
Termini	Perth; Midland;
Stations	15
Service
Type	Suburban rail
System	Transperth
Operator(s)	Transperth Train Operations
Depot(s)	Claisebrook railway depot
Rolling stock	Transperth A-series, Transperth B-series
Ridership	4,289,206 (year to June 2024)
History
Opened	1881
Technical
Line length	16.1 km (10.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in); 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in);
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Midland line is a suburban rail service on the Transperth network in Perth, Western Australia. It runs on the Eastern Railway through Perth's eastern suburbs and connects Midland with Perth. Travelling from Midland, the trains terminate at Fremantle on the Fremantle line.

History

The section of the Eastern Railway between Fremantle, Perth and Guildford was the first suburban railway line in Perth, opening on 1 March 1881.^[1]^[2]

The line was extended from Guildford to Chidlow's Well, opening in March 1884.^[3] Throughout the 1880s, the Eastern Railway line was extended beyond Guildford and Midland Junction along its first route to Chidlow and Northam. The second route varied after Bellevue proceeding to Chidlow via the Swan View Tunnel, Parkerville and Stoneville.

The third route saw the removal of the Bellevue Railway station in its construction, with the new Midland railway terminus replacing the older Midland Junction railway station. An anomaly of the Midland line timetables in the 1950s and 1960s was that Bellevue was nominally the terminus of the line until 1962. Koongamia, which was a new station prior to Greenmount on the original first route, was the terminus from 1962 to 1966.

In 1966, the stations on the first two Eastern Railway routes as well as the old Midland Junction railway station were closed and the new Midland was constructed 200 metres (660 ft) to the west and became the new terminus.

Generally, changes from the 1970s saw a significant number of stations on the line moved or turned into island platform stations (to be compatible with the double track, dual-gauge track configuration between East Perth and Midland).

On 24 July 2004, Bassendean became the first station to be upgraded under the "Building Better Stations" project.

In the early decades of the twentieth century, a significant number of rail-crossing accidents between motor vehicles and trains occurred. Unattended crossings were provided with boom gates, flashing lights and bells to counter inattention or risk taking from drivers. Also, crossings were reduced, and in a number of locations, bridges were constructed.^{[citation needed]}

Airport railway connection

In December 2013, the Government of Western Australia announced its intention to construct a railway line branching off the Midland line east of Bayswater station to Forrestfield via Perth Airport.^[4] Construction of the Forrestfield–Airport Link commenced in November 2016 and was scheduled to open in 2021.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] After construction delays it opened on 9 October 2022.^[9]^[10]

Ellenbrook line

The Ellenbrook line, which functions as a branch northward from the Midland line east of Bayswater station, was opened on 8 December 2024.^[11]^[12]^[13]

Description

During hot weather, the tracks can distort. As a result, train speeds are reduced by approximately 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph) when the air temperature is above 37 °C (99 °F), and by an additional 10 kilometres per hour (6.2 mph) when the air temperature is above 41 °C (106 °F).^[14]^[15]

The Transperth network currently uses fixed block signalling and automatic train protection, which stops trains that pass a red signal and slows trains that drive too fast.^[16]^: 21 These systems will be replaced by an automatic train control system, likely a communications-based train control system.^[16]^: 27 The new systems are planned to be in place on the Midland line by June 2027.^[16]^: 77

Route

Transperth system map, with the Midland line in maroon. The Ellenbrook line (red) and the Airport line (turquoise) branch from the Midland line at Bayswater.

Stations

Since 21 July 2019, all regular services stop at all stations on this line.^[17]


Station	Distance from Perth^[18]		Fare zone^[19]	Location	Opened	Connections
Station	km	mi	Fare zone^[19]	Location	Opened	Connections
Perth	0.0	0.0	1/FTZ	Perth	1881	Bus at Perth Busport , Airport, Armadale, Australind, Ellenbrook, Fremantle, Mandurah, Midland, Thornlie and Yanchep Lines
McIver	0.7	0.4	1/FTZ	Perth	1989	Airport Line, Armadale Line, Ellenbrook Line, Midland Line and Thornlie Line
Claisebrook	1.3	0.8	1/FTZ	East Perth, Perth	1883	Airport Line, Armadale Line, Ellenbrook Line, Midland Line and Thornlie Line
East Perth	2.1	1.3	1	East Perth, Perth	1969	Airport Line, Ellenbrook Line, Midland Line, Transwa coaches, MerredinLink, Prospector,^[20] and Indian Pacific^[21]
Mount Lawley	3.2	2.0	1	Mount Lawley	1907	Airport Line, Ellenbrook Line and Midland Line
Maylands	4.5	2.8	1	Maylands	1896	Airport Line, Ellenbrook Line and Midland Line
Meltham	5.5	3.4	1	Bayswater	1948	Airport Line, Ellenbrook Line and Midland Line
Bayswater	6.8	4.2	1	Bayswater	1896	Bus, Airport Line, Ellenbrook Line and Midland Line
Ashfield	9.3	5.8	2	Ashfield, Bassendean	1954
Bassendean	10.8	6.7	2	Bassendean	1910	Bus
Success Hill	11.7	7.3	2	Bassendean	1960
Guildford	12.6	7.8	2	Guildford	1881
East Guildford	14.1	8.8	2	Guildford	1896
Woodbridge	15.4	9.6	2	Woodbridge	1903
Midland	16.1	10.0	2	Midland	1968	Bus, AvonLink, MerredinLink, Prospector

Service

Patronage

Below is the annual patronage of Midland line from 2010 to 2024 financial year. Figures are provided as total boardings, which includes all fare-paying boardings and free travel on stations within the free transit zones as well as transfers between stations. The figures for rail replacement and special events services are not included in the total.^[22]

Midland line annual patronage
Year	Patronage	±%
2010–11	6,319,788	—
2011–12	6,626,464	+4.85%
2012–13	6,688,843	+0.94%
2013–14	6,646,213	−0.64%
2014–15	6,661,434	+0.23%
2015–16	6,437,107	−3.37%
2016–17	6,143,986	−4.55%
2017–18	5,784,146	−5.86%
2018–19	5,994,370	+3.63%
2019–20	5,025,933	−16.16%
2020–21	4,407,653	−12.30%
2021–22	4,243,760	−3.72%
2022–23	3,889,196	−8.35%
2023–24	4,289,206	+10.29%

References

^ Minchin, R. S; Higham, Geoffrey (Geoffrey J.); Australian Railway Historical Society. Western Australian Division (1981), Robb's railway : Fremantle to Guildford railway centenary 1881-1981, Australian Railway Historical Society, West Australian Division, ISBN 978-0-9599690-2-3
^ Higham, G. J. (Geoffrey J.); Australian Railway Historical Society. Western Australian Division (2006), All stations to Guildford : 125 years of the Fremantle to Guildford railway, Rail Heritage WA (Australian Railway Historical Society, W.A. Division), archived from the original on 30 April 2022, retrieved 30 April 2022
^ "Legislative Council - The Governor's Speech". The West Australian. 12 July 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
^ Treasurer Troy Buswell says airport link could be built entirely underground Archived 31 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 19 December 2013
^ Preferred respondent for new rail line announced Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Public Transport Authority 18 February 2016
^ Forrestfield airport rail link to be built by Italian firm Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 18 February 2016
^ "One-year delay for Perth Airport Link project after sinkhole strikes tunnel". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^ "Perth Airport link delayed by one year after sinkhole". ABC News. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^ "All aboard: date set for opening of METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link". Media Statements. 16 August 2022. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
^ de Kruijff, Peter (16 August 2022). "Long-delayed $1.9b Forrestfield-Airport rail link to open in October". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
^ Page, Jessica (8 December 2024). "Ellenbrook Metronet: Anthony Albanese, Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti declare rail line worth the wait". The West Australian. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
^ Hastie, Hamish (8 December 2024). "Ellenbrook line opens 16 years after it was first promised". WAtoday. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
^ Withers, Courtney (8 December 2024). "Residents welcome opening of Ellenbrook rail line in Perth's north-east amid concerns over bus routes". ABC News. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
^ "Train services slowed due to extreme heat". Public Transport Authority. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
^ Coles, Brittany (6 February 2020). "Transperth reduces speed of trains due to extreme heat". Rail Express. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "HCS SWTR Book 1 - Scope of Works DRAFT 01-09-21_Redacted". Tenders WA. 30 September 2021. 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.
^ "Midland Line". Midland Line Timetable (PDF) (Midland Line). Transperth. 6 November 2024 [effective from 9 December 2024].
^ "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.
^ "Midland Line Train Timetable" (PDF). Transperth. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
^ "East Perth". Transwa. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
^ "East Perth Terminal". Journey Beyond. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
^ "Transperth patronage". Public Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2014.

v t e Railway lines in Western Australia
Main lines	Eastern Goldfields Eastern Railway Great Southern Railway South Western Railway Trans-Australian Railway
Goldfields–Esperance	Hopetoun–Ravensthorpe^† Kalgoorlie–Esperance Kalgoorlie–Gnumballa Lake^† Kalgoorlie–Kanowna^† Kalgoorlie–Leonora Malcolm–Laverton^† Kambalda–Redmine
Great Southern	Donnybrook–Katanning^† Elleker–Nornalup^† Katanning–Pingrup^† Tambellup–Ongerup^†
Mid West	Avon Yard–Mullewa^† Cue–Big Bell^† Dongara–Eneabba^† Geraldton–Ajana^† Geraldton–Mullewa Karara Meekatharra-Horseshoe^† Meekatharra–Wiluna^† Millendon Junction–Narngulu Mullewa–Meekatharra^† Mount Magnet–Sandstone^† Upper Chapman Valley^†
Peel	Waroona–Lake Clifton Pinjarra–Narrogin^†
Pilbara	Fortescue Goldsworthy Hamersley & Robe River Marble Bar^† Mount Newman Roy Hill
Perth	Airport Armadale Belmont^† Ellenbrook Fremantle Kalamunda Kwinana freight Mandurah Midland (country) Midland (suburban) Mundaring Mundaring Weir Spearwood–Armadale^† Thornlie Upper Darling Range Yanchep
South West	Boyanup–Flinders Bay^† Brunswick Junction–Narrogin^† Donnybrook–Katanning^† Picton–Northcliffe^† Pinjarra–Narrogin^† Wonnerup–Nannup^†
Wheatbelt	Amery–Kalannie Avon Yard–Mullewa^† Brookton–Corrigin^† Brunswick Junction–Narrogin^† Burakin–Bonnie Rock^† Goomalling–West Merredin^† Lake Grace–Hyden Merredin–Narrogin^† Merredin–Yilliminning^† Pinjarra–Narrogin^† Toodyay West–Miling Wagin–Bowelling^† Wagin–Newdegate Wyalkatchem–Southern Cross^† York–Bruce Rock^†
Tourist and heritage railways	Bennett Brook Hotham Valley Oliver Hill
Timber railway lines	Ballaarat tramline Jarrahdale–Rockingham
Trams and tramways	Baldivis tramway Broome Tramway Carnarvon tram Trams in Fremantle Trams in Kalgoorlie Trams in Perth
Approved by Parliament but not constructed	Boyup Brook–Cranbrook Brookton–Dale River Manjimup–Mount Barker Southern Cross southwards Yarramony eastward Yuna-Dartmoor
^† Denotes railway is closed, partially closed or has been removed See also: Agricultural railways ♦ Wheatbelt railways