Transwa Avonlink
|
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Western Australia |
| First service | 24 September 1995 |
| Current operator(s) | Transwa (since 2003) |
| Former operator(s) |
Westrail (1995-2000) WAGR Commission (2000-2003) |
| Route | |
| Start | East Perth / Midland |
| End | Northam / Merredin |
| Distance travelled | 97 km (Northam) 261 km (Merredin) |
| Average journey time | 1 hour 20 minutes (Northam) 3 hours 15 minutes (Merredin) |
| Service frequency | Weekdays |
| Line used | Eastern Railway |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
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.
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.
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