Midland line, Perth
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.
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.The line was extended from Guildford to Chidlow's Well, opening in March 1884.
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 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.
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.
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. Construction of the Forrestfield–Airport Link commenced in November 2016 and was scheduled to open in 2021. After construction delays it opened on 9 October 2022.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.Description
During hot weather, the tracks can distort. As a result, train speeds are reduced by approximately when the air temperature is above, and by an additional when the air temperature is above.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. These systems will be replaced by an automatic train control system, likely a communications-based train control system. The new systems are planned to be in place on the Midland line by June 2027.
Route
Stations
Since 21 July 2019, all regular services stop at all stations on this line.Service
Stopping patterns
Legend — Stopping Patterns- ● – All trains stop
- ◐ – Some services do not stop
- | – Trains pass and do not stop
Patronage
Current information
- Transperth
- Transperth Train Operations
- List of Transperth railway stations
- Bayswater Subway
Historical information
- Midland Railway of Western Australia