Service type Passenger train Locale Western Australia Current operator(s) Transwa (since 2003) | Status Operational First service 24 September 1995 | |
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Former operator(s) Westrail (1995-2000)
WAGR Commission (2000-2003) | ||
The AvonLink is a 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge passenger train operated by Transwa between Perth and the Avon Valley.
Contents
History
The first AvonLink service departed Northam on 24 September 1995, and was significant, as it was the first new country passenger rail service in Western Australia for 47 years.
In June 2004 the AvonLink service was extended to Merredin on three days a week. In spring 2006, Transwa trialed a day trip Sunday service to Toodyay and Northam. The six-week trial proved popular with each service being fully booked out weeks in advance. However, due to overall lack of passengers at other times the service was discontinued.
In August 2013, Transwa announced that the AvonLink service would cease on 30 December 2013 due to poor patronage and be replaced by a road coach. However, this announcement generated significant criticism. On 19 November 2013, two Wheatbelt region MLAs, Mia Davies and Shane Love, presented petitions to the WA State Parliament calling for the retention of the AvonLink. The petitions bore a total of more than 3,000 signatures of Avon Valley residents.
On 3 December 2013, the WA Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell, announced that the AvonLink service would be retained, initially for a period of six months, while Transwa and the Wheatbelt Development Commission worked through the funding solution required to keep the service running beyond that initial period. The MerredinLink service was also retained.
In May 2014, it was announced that an enhanced service would continue until at least June 2017.
Rolling stock
The service commenced with Comeng built railcars built in 1971 to operate The Prospector.
In December 2000 Westrail awarded a contract to United Goninan, Broadmeadow for nine railcars to replace the 1971 built stock. Seven were for The Prospector and two for the Avonlink service. The new train entered service on 1 August 2005.
Services
Each weekday (except Wednesdays), there are three trains in each direction between Midland and Northam, stopping at Toodyay. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the frequency of this service is reduced to just one train each way.
On Wednesdays, in addition to the above service, there is also one service in each direction between East Perth and Merredin. This service is scheduled to stop at all stations en route, however between Northam and Merredin, trains only stop at intermediate stations if advance bookings are made.
There is no service on Sundays.
This gives a total of 15 trains per week in each direction between Midland and Northam, of which one is extended both westbound to East Perth and eastbound to Merredin.