Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has announced the temporary shutdown of the Midland Line, to facilitate critical works on the upgraded Bayswater Station, has been postponed.
Postponing the shutdown will reduce the impact on commuters travelling to and from this year’s Royal Show, but is also necessary to provide more time to prepare for the works due to the ongoing impact of significant supply chain disruptions.
The shutdown was originally scheduled to begin on September 23, but will now start in the January school holiday period. Pending the impact of ongoing supply chain disruptions, the works may be undertaken in two shorter shutdowns during the January and April school holiday periods respectively.
The shutdown is required to remove and replace about 1.8 kilometres of track and other rail systems, as well as expanding the existing Leake Street pedestrian underpass and continuing work on the new Bayswater Bridge.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Moving the shutdown to early 2023 is necessary to provide us with more time to prepare for the critical works, but will also reduce the expected impact on people that were going to use the Midland Line to travel to and from the Royal Show.
“Like most infrastructure projects across the country, we are continuing to experience challenges sourcing critical components.
“The works are currently scheduled for the January school holidays, but may be undertaken in two shorter shutdowns during both the January and April school holidays, to minimise disruptions.
“This will be critical to delivering the upgraded Bayswater Station, which will be the only train station outside of the CBD that services three separate train lines.
“During the shutdown we will be removing and replacing about 1.8 kilometres of track and other rail systems, as well as expanding the existing Leake Street pedestrian underpass and continuing work on the new Bayswater Bridge.
“Unfortunately it means we’ll be stuck with the old Bayswater Bridge for a little bit longer, much to the dismay of truck drivers across Perth.
“While the shutdown is necessary, I understand the challenge it will create for commuters, and we will do everything we can to minimise the disruptions.”
