South Western Railway
Photo of Bunbury Bridge in East Perth circa 1930
Bunbury Bridge in 1930
Overview
OwnerPublic Transport Authority
Arc Infrastructure
Termini
Stations31
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Heavy rail
Operator(s)Public Transport Authority
Aurizon
History
Opened22 May 1893 (Perth–Pinjarra)
22 August 1893 (Pinjarra–Bunbury)
Technical
Line length181 km (112 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Route map
km
0.0
 Perth
Armadale/Thornlie Line
030.1
Armadale
33.6
 Wongong
037.6
 Byford
planned
038.4
Byford
40.7
 Cardup
43.0
Kwinana
Railway
Public Transport Auth.
Arc Infrastructure
046.5
Mundijong
Jarrahdale Branch
50.9
 Mardella
54.4
 Serpentine
62.0
 Keysbrook
071.8
North Dandalup
Whittaker's Tramway
074.0
Dandalup
79.4
 Venn
87.0
 Pinjarra
087.5
Alcoa Refinery /
Hotham Valley Line
Murray River
098.0
Coolup
Gill McDowell Tramway
112.0
Waroona
115.1
 Hamel
118.0
 Wagerup
Refinery Loop
123.0
 Yarloop
Loop
124.9
Yarloop
Station
Millar's Tramway (Yarloop)
129.4
 Cookernup
136.0
Warawarrup
Harvey River
138.9
Harvey
Millar's Tramway (Mornington)
142.9
 Wokalup
149.0
 Benger
158.0
Collie Branch
159.7
Brunswick Junction
Roelands Quarry Spur
163.5
 Roelands
Collie River
166.0
 Burekup
175.0
 Picton Yard
Northcliffe Branch
Bunbury Harbour Spur
181.0
 Bunbury Terminal
185.4
 Bunbury Station

The South Western Railway, also known as the South West Main Line, is the main railway route between Perth and Bunbury in Western Australia.

Harvey station in October 2006

History

Construction

The South Western Railway was constructed for the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) by various private contractors from 1891.[1] Among these was the engineer and magistrate William W. L. Owen.[2]

Construction was completed in two parts.[3] The first, East Perth to Pinjarra, was undertaken by William Atkins (former mill manager of the Neil McNeil Co. at the Jarrahdale Timber Station)[4] and Robert Oswald Law (who built the Fremantle Long Jetty) from the end of 1891.[1] Work began in 1892 but was slowed by difficulties with building the bridge over the Swan River.[1][5] This section opened on 22 May 1893.[6][7]

The second phase of construction was also completed by Atkins and McNeil, starting at Bunbury and working north to Pinjarra opening on 22 August 1893.[1][3][7][6] Bunbury station was opened by Sir John Forrest on 14 November 1894.

Alignment

As operated by the WAGR, the line was 115 miles 14 chains (115.18 miles, 185.36 km) from Perth to Bunbury.[8] Since that time, the line has been shortened to 181 km as some stations have closed, moved or been replaced by passing loops.[9]

The first 30 kilometres of the line from Perth are served by Transperth's Armadale Line. This section is double-tracked and electrified using 25 kV AC.[10] The line south of Armadale is not electrified and predominantly single-track, with passing loops at various locations. The section from Perth to Mundijong Junction is controlled by the Public Transport Authority, with the remainder of the line controlled by Arc Infrastructure.[11]

The section controlled by Arc Infrastructure has been upgraded to accommodate 21 tonne axle loads, featuring concrete sleepers and continuous welded 50 kg/m rail.[12]

Bridges

The Bunbury Bridge near Perth was the most significant engineering structure on the line. It was replaced by the Goongoongup Bridge in 1996. Other notable bridges include:

  • Jenna Bidi Bridge over the Canning River in Gosnells
  • Murray River Bridge south of Pinjarra
  • Harvey River Bridge north of Harvey
  • Collie River Bridge south of Roelands

Branches

The line connects with all Transperth commuter rail lines at Perth, with specific branches to the Midland Line at Claisebrook and the Thornlie Line at Kenwick.[11][10]

In terms of key freight connectivity, the line branches to the Kwinana Line at Kenwick and Mundijong Junction.[9] The Jarrahdale Branch was accessed at Mundijong, but this line is now out of service.[9] A branch south of Pinjarra serves Alcoa and provides access to the Hotham Valley Branch.[9][13] The Collie Branch connects at Brunswick Junction, providing access to Worsley Alumina and Collie.[9] At Picton the line once continued a 200 km south as the Northcliffe Branch, with further branches to Flinders Bay and Katanning, however only the first few kilometres of this line remain in use.[9] A 10 km spur to Bunbury Harbour provides access to the port west of Picton.[11]

Timber tramways

Several timber mills used to operate along the railway, each with their own access to the mainline. Many of these mills operated extensive timber tramways that fed significant quantities of timber to the railway.[14]

Operations

Passenger

The Transperth commuter rail Armadale Line operates a frequent passenger service at the Perth end of the route.

Beyond Armadale the only passenger service on the line is The Australind. It traverses the entire length of the line from Perth to Bunbury twice a day in each direction, taking about 2 hours and 30 minutes each way.[15] Other named trains that previously operated on the line were the Bunbury Belle and The Shopper.

Stations

There are currently 31 passenger stations on the line, of which 20 are served by Armadale Line services. Beyond the Armadale Line section, all stations meet Disability Discrimination Act standards.[16][17] The stations at Brunswick Junction and Bunbury provide connections to Transwa coach services.[15] A planned extension of the Armadale Line as part of Metronet would see a new station built at Byford.[18]

Freight

Freight services on the line are operated by Aurizon and are primarily focused on bauxite and alumina mining and refining.[19] Bulk bauxite is carried from Alcoa Pinjarra to Kwinana for export and bulk alumina is transported from Alcoa Wagerup as well as from Worsley Alumina to Bunbury port.[19] Caustic soda is transported from Bunbury Port to Wagerup and Worsley for use in alumina refining and some coal from the Collie Branch is also carried on the line.[20][19] Potential exists for the line to carry mineral sands, agricultural produce, lithium ore and containerised freight on the line in the future.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Geff (2008). "Table Construction of the W.A Government Railways network, 1879-1931". Rails through the Bush: Timber and Firewood Tramways and Railway Contractors of Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia: Rail Heritage WA. pp. 208–210. ISBN 978-0-9803922-2-7. OL 12330925W.
  2. ↑ Owen, William Lambden (1933). Cossack Gold. Angus and Robertson. OL 16795671W.
  3. 1 2 "Perth—Bunbury Railway". The Inquirer & Commercial News. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 6 April 1892. p. 4. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Thomas, W. C. (1938). "Mills and Men". Australian Timber Journal.
  5. ↑ "The South-Western Railway: Mr Neil McNeil's Picnic". The West Australian. Perth, Western Australia. 19 December 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 Arnold, John (1993). Rails to Pinjarra 100. Pinjarra: 100 Planning Committee. p. 4. ISBN 0 646 14228 3.
  7. 1 2 Newland, Andrew; Quinlan, Howard (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 – 2000. Redfern: Australian Railway Historical Society. p. 64. ISBN 0-909650-49-7.
  8. ↑ Western Australian Government Railways (1946). Time Table for passenger, mixed, and goods trains over all lines. Perth: Western Australian Government Railways.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Arc Infrastructure Network Map Arc Infrastructure
  10. 1 2 Kreitling, John (1991). Perth Electric – A new era. Perth: The Western Australian Government Railways Commission (Westrail). ISBN 0 7309 4619 3.
  11. 1 2 3 Public Transport Authority Network Map Public Transport Authority
  12. ↑ Arc Infrastructure Network Specifications Arc Infrastructure
  13. ↑ "Dwellingup Branch". Hotham Valley Tourist Railway. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  14. ↑ Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff (2008). Rails through the Bush: Timber and Firewood Tramways and Railway Contractors of Western Australia. Perth: Rail Heritage WA.
  15. 1 2 Australind Timetable Transwa
  16. ↑ Transwa Stopping Place Locations Transwa
  17. ↑ Cookernup Station Upgrade Public Transport Authority
  18. ↑ Byford Rail Extension Public Transport Authority
  19. 1 2 3 4 Draft South West Supply Chain Strategy Department of Transportation
  20. ↑ "Coal Processing & Delivery". Premier Coal. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

Further reading

  • Affleck, Fred (1978). On Track: The Making of Westrail, 1950–1976. Perth: Westrail. ISBN 0724475605. OCLC 6489347.
  • May, Andrew S; Gray, Bill (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Midland, WA: Bill Gray. ISBN 0646459023.
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