Carlisle railway station, Perth

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Coordinates: 31°58′51″S 115°54′41″E / 31.980934°S 115.911271°E / -31.980934; 115.911271
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Carlisle
Concrete viaduct beams
Viaduct beams in place at the Carlisle station site in February 2024
General information
LocationBank Street & Rutland Avenue, Carlisle / East Victoria Park
Western Australia
Australia
Coordinates31°58′51″S 115°54′41″E / 31.980934°S 115.911271°E / -31.980934; 115.911271
Owned byPublic Transport Authority
Operated byPublic Transport Authority
Line(s)
Distance7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) from Perth
Platforms1 island platform with 2 platform edges
Tracks2
Construction
ParkingYes
Other information
StatusTemporarily closed
Fare zone1
History
Opened2 July 1912
Closed20 November 2023
Rebuilt20 November 2023–mid-2025
Previous namesVictoria Park East[a]
Mint Street
Haydon's Siding
Passengers
2013–14167,460
Services
Preceding station Transperth Transperth Following station
Before closure
Victoria Park
towards Perth
 Armadale line
All stops
 Oats Street
towards Armadale
Thornlie line
T
 Oats Street
towards Thornlie
Location
Map
Location of Carlisle station

Carlisle railway station is a temporarily-closed suburban railway station on the Transperth network in Western Australia. It is in the Perth suburbs of Carlisle and East Victoria Park, and was predominantly served by Thornlie line services prior to its closure in November 2023.

The station first opened in July 1912. It was known as Mint Street station at first, but it was renamed Victoria Park East[a] station in October 1912 and to its present name in May 1919. It gained a station master in 1922, which lasted until 1971. Carlisle station had minor upgrades from 2002 to 2003 in preparation for the opening of the Thornlie line, which happened in 2005. Since 20 November 2023, the station has been closed to undergo a complete rebuild as an elevated station as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project to remove a nearby level crossing. The station and line are planned to reopen in mid-2025.

Description[edit]

Brick island platform with small shelter on it
Carlisle station in January 2018

Carlisle station is on the boundary of Carlisle and East Victoria Park, which are suburbs of Perth. The station is between Rutland Avenue to the east and Bank Street to the west and is south of the Mint Street/Archer Street level crossing.[1][2] The station is along the South Western Railway, which links Perth and Bunbury,[3] and is owned by the Public Transport Authority (PTA).[4] Adjacent stations are Victoria Park station to the north-west and Oats Street station to the south-east.[5] Carlisle station is 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) from Perth station.[6]

Before it was demolished, Carlisle station consisted of a 100-metre-long (330 ft) island platform which was accessed by two pedestrian level crossings at each end of the platform. The steep ramps to access the platform made the station not fully accessible. To the north-west was a car park with 54 bays.[7][5]

The surrounding area predominantly consists of low density residential development, although there is also the Carlisle Hotel and the Harold Hawthorne Community Centre.[8]

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

The South Western Railway was opened between Perth and Pinjarra on 2 May 1893.[3][9] A siding known as Haydon's Siding was soon constructed near the present-day Carlisle station, to serve a foundry.[10]

The Victoria Park Council sent a deputation to the commissioner of railways in July 1910, requesting that trains stop at Mint Street. The commissioner denied the request, saying that he would not consider stopping trains there without a platform or any station facilities.[11] According to a local resident, construction started on a station platform at Mint Street in September 1911 but stopped a few weeks thereafter.[12] In December 1911, the local government sent another deputation to the minister for railways, Philip Collier, asking for several improvements to the railway line, including that trains stop at Mint Street despite any lack of platform or other facilities there.[13] According to the local resident, construction restarted around March 1912, lasting a few more weeks before stopping.[12] The station eventually opened on 2 July 1912.[14] Names suggested for the station included Victoria Park East,[a] Haydon, Bickford, or Mint Street. Victoria Park East was opposed by the commissioner of railways, who believed it would be misleading and cause confusion.[15][16] At first, the station was named Mint Street, but it was renamed Victoria Park East in October 1912.[9]

The area surrounding the station was initially known as Bickford, but ratepayers voted in April or May 1919 to rename it Carlisle, after the town in England of the same name.[10][17] On 23 May 1919, the station was renamed Carlisle station[9][18] following a request from the Perth City Council.[19]

A station master was first appointed to Carlisle station on 1 September 1922. It became an unmanned station again on 1 June 1971.[9]

2000s renovation[edit]

Westrail, the operator of railways in Perth at the time, planned to rebuild Carlisle station in the late 1990s, but that was deferred pending completion of planning for the Mandurah line. The original plans had the Mandurah line branch off the Armadale line at Kenwick, which would have meant an increase in trains at Carlisle station. The first South West Metropolitan Railway Master Plan, published in 1999, therefore proposed a rebuild of Carlisle station. The plan included rebuilding the station closer to the Mint Street/Archer Street level crossing with two side platforms. A pedestrian bridge would have been built, but the level crossing would not have been removed, unlike several other level crossings on the Armadale line. The tracks would have been realigned to allow for a future upgrade to four tracks, and the platforms would have been designed to allow for extension to 150 metres (490 ft).[1]

In 2001, a new state government was elected, who changed the route of the Mandurah line to be a more direct route from Perth rather than a branch of the Armadale line. Instead, the Thornlie line would be built as a one-station spur off the Armadale line at the same place as the previous Mandurah line route. A new master plan was released in August 2002, which scaled back the works proposed for Carlisle station to just an upgrade of the existing station rather than a complete rebuild.[20]

Preliminary work started at Carlisle station in December 2002[21] and a contract was signed in January 2003. The upgrade cost A$1.2 million and included a resurfaced platform, new shelter, better lighting, and better security.[22] Construction was planned to allow the station to remain open at all times, although with only one entrance open.[21] The upgrade was complete by the end of 2003.[23] The Thornlie line opened on 7 August 2005.[24][25]

2020s rebuild[edit]

A crowd of people in the station's carpark. There are gazebos set up and a coffee van and ambulance parked.
A Metronet information day at Carlisle station in November 2023, a week prior to closing

Under Metronet's Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project, Carlisle station will be rebuilt as an elevated station to remove the nearby level crossing. Grade separating the Mint Street/Archer Street level crossing was not initially planned under Metronet,[26] but it was added due to federal funding in 2019. At this stage, the method of level crossing removal had not yet been decided.[27][28][29] The decision to go with an elevated solution was announced in June 2020. The railway was to be elevated all the way from Mint Street to past Oats Street, a distance of 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi). Town of Victoria Park mayor Karen Vernon criticised the decision to go with an elevated railway, instead wanting it to be underground. She said elevated rail "would be a blight on our area" and "it doesn't enhance the character of an area like Victoria Park".[30][31][32]

It was announced in February 2022 that to build the elevated railway, the Armadale and Thornlie lines would have to shut down for 18 months.[33][34][35] In August 2022, the $701 million contract was signed with the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance, a consortium of Acciona Construction, BMD Constructions, WSP and AECOM.[36][37] The 18 month shutdown commenced on 20 November 2023.[38][39] In February 2024, the first viaduct beams were lifted into place at Carlisle station.[40]

The new Carlisle station will be closer to Mint Street and Archer Street to space out stations better and allow for connections to bus routes along those streets. The station will have two 150-metre (490 ft) long side platforms, to be accessed by lifts and stairs, with provisions for escalators in the future. The car park will be located under the elevated railway, and the railway will be positioned on the southern side of the rail corridor, which will allow for expansion to four tracks in the future.[41][42]

Services[edit]

A train stopped at a station platform viewed from a pedestrian level crossing behind
A Thornlie-bound Transperth A-series train at Carlisle station in November 2023

Prior to being closed, Carlisle station was predominantly served by Thornlie line trains but also Armadale line trains at night and on Sundays.[43] These services form part of the Transperth system and are operated by the PTA.[44] The Armadale line went between Perth station and Armadale station along the South Western Railway.[3] The Thornlie line went between Perth station and Thornlie station, branching between Beckenham and Kenwick.[45]

Thornlie line trains stopped at the station every 15 minutes during the day from Monday to Saturday and every half an hour at night. On Sundays, Thornlie line trains stopped at the station every half an hour. Armadale line services typically skipped Carlisle station but stopped at the station late at night and on Sundays every half an hour. Service hours were between approximately 5 am and midnight, extending to 2 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.[43]

In the 2013–14 financial year, Carlisle station had 167,460 boardings, making it a lesser-used station for the Armadale and Thornlie lines.[46] In 2019, the station had an average of 482 boardings per weekday. This is expected to rise to 733 boardings per weekday in 2031.[2]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Sources differ between Victoria Park East and East Victoria Park

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "South West Metropolitan Railway Master Plan". New MetroRail. March 1999. pp. 28–29, 43, 47, figure 29. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project Definition Plan" (PDF). Metronet. August 2022. pp. 13, 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Arnold, John (2006). A History of Bringing the Rails to Pinjarra: The Southwest Railway of Western Australia. pp. 4, 12. ISBN 978-0-646-14228-9.
  4. ^ "Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Carlisle Station". Transperth. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Manual – Rail Access" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. p. 59−63. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Carlisle Station Map" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Appendix A – Detailed Site Description" (PDF). WA.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. p. 70. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Local History Collection Timeline". Town of Victoria Park (3rd ed.). January 2016. pp. 4, 13, 16–17, 32. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Carlisle". Town of Victoria Park Library. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Train Facilities". The Daily News. 23 July 1910. p. 13. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ a b "A Victoria Park Grievance". The West Australian. 16 May 1912. p. 8. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "The Armadale-Victoria Park District". The West Australian. 25 December 1911. p. 8. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "News and Notes". The West Australian. 2 July 1912. p. 6. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Victoria Park Council". The Daily News. 17 July 1912. p. 6. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Municipal Councils: Victoria Park". The West Australian. 22 July 1912. p. 5. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ Gallop, Geoff. "Know Your Suburb: Carlisle and Lathlain" (PDF). Town of Victoria Park Library. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  18. ^ "News and Notes". The West Australian. 24 May 1919. p. 6. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Perth City Council". The Daily News. 25 March 1919. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Perth Urban Rail Development Project – Supplementary Master Plan" (PDF). New MetroRail. August 2002. p. 108, 110. ISBN 0-7307-2426-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007.
  21. ^ a b "Victoria Park railway services to be upgraded". Media Statements. 13 December 2002. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  22. ^ "OnTrack: Issue 1" (PDF). New MetroRail. March 2003. pp. 6–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007.
  23. ^ "OnTrack: Issue 6" (PDF). New MetroRail. July 2004. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007.
  24. ^ "Thornlie line and station opening a major milestone for public transport network". Media Statements. 7 August 2005. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  25. ^ "OnTrack: Issue 10" (PDF). New MetroRail. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2007.
  26. ^ Corlett, Aaron (17 February 2017). "State Election: major parties reveal plans to combat congestion in Victoria Park". PerthNow. Southern Gazette. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  27. ^ Zis, Matt (29 March 2019). "Boom! Gates to go at rail level crossings". PerthNow. Southern Gazette. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  28. ^ "METRONET boom gate blitz planned for Armadale Line". Media Statements. 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Plans to remove level crossings on Armadale train line". PerthNow. Comment News. 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Bye, bye boom gates - transformational plan released for Armadale Line". Media Statements. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  31. ^ Law, Peter (16 June 2020). "WA Government announces $415 million plan to turn Armadale line into Perth's first 'sky rail'". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  32. ^ Manfield, Evelyn (16 June 2020). "Elevated rail corridor for Perth's south-east unveiled, but mayor vows to fight for underground line". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  33. ^ "New METRONET legislation introduced to enable major projects". Media Statements. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  34. ^ Al Jrood, Tabarak (20 February 2022). "Armadale rail line to close for 18 months as part of major Metronet upgrade". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  35. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (20 February 2022). "Armadale train line shutdown for 18 months for Metronet upgrades". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  36. ^ Thompson, John (17 August 2022). "Opening date for METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link announced". Infrastructure Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  37. ^ Gameng, Monica (20 August 2022). "Two major construction contracts awarded for METRONET projects". Felix Vendor Marketplace. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  38. ^ Shepherd, Briana; Ho, Cason (20 November 2023). "Perth's Armadale/Thornlie rail line closure is underway. Here's what you need to know about getting around". ABC News. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  39. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (20 November 2023). "Armadale Line shutdown: Smooth-sailing on first morning but 'potentially significant' disruption to come". The West Australian. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  40. ^ "Up, up and away". Metronet. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Carlisle Station Fact Sheet" (PDF). Metronet. July 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Carlisle and Oats Street Train Stations, Station Precincts and Public Realm – Development Application No. 2" (PDF). WA.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. pp. 40–41. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  43. ^ a b "Armadale/Thornlie Line Train Timetable" (PDF). Transperth. 10 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  44. ^ "Transperth". Public Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Transperth Zone Map" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Question On Notice No. 4248 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 25 June 2015 by Mr M. Mcgowan". Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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