Revamp rail service for Avon community

10/3/00
Transport Minister Murray Criddle today announced the go-ahead for the construction of a new $2.4 million standard gauge high-level platform at the Midland railway station specifically to cater for AvonLink and Prospector train services.
Mr Criddle said that stopping points between Midland and Northam would also be upgraded to provide improved access for passengers who have a mobility impairment.
The new platform at Midland would replace a low-level stopping facility adjacent to the station which had been a source of complaint for many years because of its less than ideal access for passengers.
"When the new platform is completed towards the end of this year, AvonLink services will terminate at Midland and provide passengers with a direct link to the city and the metropolitan area via Transperth train and bus services," Mr Criddle said.
"The concept is part of an inter-urban strategy for the train, which will see the number of services progressively extended to five services each weekday when the new rolling stock is acquired."

A new inter-urban fare structure would be introduced to allow AvonLink passengers to travel to and from any point in the metropolitan area using Transperth services on the one combined ticket.
Mr Criddle said that the concept of the AvonLink train providing an inter-urban service between the Avon region and the metropolitan area was a milestone for the region and a measure of the Government's confidence in its future growth.

"While it was originally intended that the new AvonLink railcars would be narrow gauge, a decision has been taken to operate the service with standard gauge railcars," he said.
"Like the planned new Prospector railcars, the Avonlink will be state-of-the-art and fitted out internally with features suited to commuter travel, including connections for lap top computers."
Mr Criddle said that tenders for provision of new AvonLink railcars had closed and were being evaluated in conjunction with tenders called for the new Prospector railcars.
Delivery of the new railcars was expected to be completed by mid-2002.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333