Leederville railway station explained

Leederville
Style:Transperth
Style2:YAN
Address:Mitchell Freeway, Leederville / West Leederville
Borough:Western Australia
Country:Australia
Coordinates:-31.9389°N 115.8403°W
Distance: from Perth Underground
Bus Routes:2
Bus Stands:3
Platform:1 island platform with 2 platform edges
Tracks:2
Parking:None
Opened:20 December 1992
Accessible:Partial
Owned:Public Transport Authority
Operator:Public Transport Authority
Zone:1
Passengers:2,700 per day
Pass Year:March 2018
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Caption:Location of Leederville station
Mapframe-Zoom:13

Leederville railway station is a suburban railway station on the boundary of Leederville and West Leederville, suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The station is on the Yanchep line and is part of the Transperth network. Located within the median strip of the Mitchell Freeway, Leederville station consists of an island platform connected to either side of the freeway by a footbridge.

The initial master plan for the Yanchep line (then known as the Joondalup line or Northern Suburbs Railway) gave provisions for Leederville station but stated it would not be constructed at first. The station was later added to the construction program to offset complaints from local residents about a widening of the Mitchell Freeway. The station opened to limited service on 20 December 1992 as one of three initial stations on the line. The remaining stations opened the following year and on 21 March 1993, full service on the Joondalup line commenced. The station has had minor upgrades since, with the platforms being extended in 2004 and a bus interchange opening in 2013.

Trains at Leederville station run at a five-minute frequency during peak hour, lowering to a fifteen-minute frequency off-peak and on weekends and public holidays. At night, trains are half-hourly or hourly. The journey to Perth Underground station takes three minutes. There are two bus routes that serve the station, including the Green CAT route.

Description

Leederville station is on the border of Leederville to the north-east and West Leederville to the south-west, which are suburbs of Perth, Western Australia.[1] The station is within the median strip of the Mitchell Freeway[2] and on the Yanchep line (formerly known as the Joondalup line), which is part of the Transperth system and is owned by the Public Transport Authority, a state government agency.[3] The next stations are Perth Underground to the south-east and Glendalough to the north.[4] Leederville station is from Perth Underground station[5] and is in fare zone one.[4]

Leederville station consists of an island platform, connected to both sides of the freeway via a footbridge. The footbridge is connected to the platform via a set of stairs and a ramp. On the south-western side is a bus interchange with three bus stands. There is no parking at Leederville station, but nearby public carparks are used by some commuters. Due to the steepness of the ramp and a platform gap on the southbound platform, Leederville station is not fully accessible.[6]

To the north-east of the station is the Leederville town centre, along Oxford Street. Other places nearby are Leederville Oval, the School of Isolated and Distance Education, Water Corporation headquarters, North Metropolitan TAFE's Leederville campus, the City of Vincent civic centre, and the Loftus Recreation Centre.

History

During initial planning for the Joondalup line in the 1980s, a station at Oxford Street in Leederville was considered.[7] It was forecast that there would be low demand for the station, but that it could become viable as more offices in West Perth were built in the future, with bus services to link there.[8] The Northern Suburbs Transit System Master Plan, released in November 1989, decided that a station there would not be built initially and that provisions would be put in place for the station's construction in the future. The master plan also said that the Mitchell Freeway would need to be duplicated to the west between Loftus Street and Hutton Street as that section of the freeway was originally constructed as a single carriageway with a dividing barrier, making no room for the railway.[9] [10]

The expansion of the freeway encountered local resistance, with residents opposed to the impact on Lake Monger and Leederville,[11] which had already been divided when the freeway was constructed in the 1970s. State Premier Carmen Lawrence announced in July 1990 that Murdoch University professor Peter Newman would undertake a review of the scheme.[12] Newman said that it was unfair for Leederville residents to put up with the freeway widening without getting a railway station. His report recommended that the expansion be scaled down from five lanes in each direction to four, and for Leederville station to be built with the rest of the Northern Suburbs Railway.[13] The government accepted those recommendations.[14] [15]

Leederville station was designed by Westrail, the state's rail operator. The freeway roadworks were done in-house by the Main Roads Department.[16] The new northbound Mitchell Freeway carriageway opened on 21 June 1992, after eighteen months of construction.[17] By the middle of 1992, the station's platform had reached completion.[18] Due to the freeway duplication, the existing footbridge at Oxford Street had to be replaced, as it was not long enough. The new footbridge, a cable-stayed bridge which is the only access to Leederville station, was constructed alongside two other bridges elsewhere under a $5.3million contract by Leighton Contractors. The bridge opened in September 1992.[19] By July 1992, a $1million contract for the construction of Leederville station had been awarded to John Holland Constructions.[20] John Holland won an award at the state Master Builders Association's Excellence in Construction Awards in 1993 for the company's work on Leederville station.[21] [22]

Leederville station opened on 20 December 1992 as one of three initial stations on the Joondalup line, alongside Edgewater and Joondalup stations. From 21 December, train services ran under a limited service "discoveride" brand, meaning that train services had a limited frequency of every half-an-hour and only operated between 9:30am and 2:30pm.[23] [24] Full service commenced on 21 March 1993, which included peak hour services for the first time and an off-peak frequency increase.[25] [26] [27]

Later upgrades

In 2003, the contract for extending the platforms on seven Joondalup line stations, including Leederville station, was awarded to Lakis Constructions for $4.8million. The platforms on these stations had to be extended by to accommodate 150m (490feet) six-car trains, which were planned to enter service as part of the extension to Clarkson station and construction of the Mandurah line. The platform edges were also upgraded to bring them into line with tactile paving standards. The project began with the extension of Leederville station,[28] and work there was completed by April 2004.[29]

In 2011–12, a turnback siding was built south of Leederville station, allowing trains to reverse at Leederville during disruptions instead of Stirling station as was done previously.[30] [31]

A new Green CAT bus route from Leederville station to Esplanade Busport was announced in April 2012. The Green CAT was the fourth Central Area Transit route and is free to use and funded by the Perth Parking Management Account.[32] [33] [34] A bus interchange on the western side of the freeway was constructed from March to June 2013.[35] [36] The Green CAT service commenced on 1 July 2013, "fast-tracked"[37] [38] so that it could open before two five-day shutdowns of the Joondalup line from Leederville to Perth Underground during July and August 2013 for the Perth City Link.[39] [40]

Proposals

In 2011, the City of Vincent and Town of Cambridge, the two local government areas on each side of the Mitchell Freeway, proposed the "Leederville station link", which was an upgrade to the access to Leederville station. The present footbridge is not sheltered and does not have an inviting entrance. The options considered included a pedestrian deck or a viaduct bridge to improve the connection across the freeway and to Leederville station.[41] In 2024, City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon and Town of Cambridge Mayor Gary Mack called on the state government to upgrade Leederville station, saying it is "holding up the revitalisation of the surrounding precinct". Xamon said that disability access is poor.[42]

Services

Leederville station is served by Yanchep line trains, which travel from Yanchep station in the north to Elizabeth Quay station in the south, continuing south from there on the Mandurah line. These services are operated by the Public Transport Authority.[43]

During peak hour, trains stop at Leederville station every five minutes, with some services terminating or commencing at Whitfords or Clarkson stations. Off peak and for weekends and public holidays, trains are every fifteen minutes. At night, trains are half-hourly or hourly. The journey to Perth Underground station takes three minutes.[44]

Two regular bus routes serve Leederville station.[45] Route 96, which goes to the University of Western Australia via Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre and Thomas Street,[46] and the Green CAT, which goes to Elizabeth Quay bus station via City West station.[47] Rail replacement bus services operate as route 904.[45]

Leederville station received 937,581 passengers in the 2013–14 financial year.[48] In March 2018, Leederville station had approximately 2,700 boardings on an average weekday, making it the fourth least used station on the Yanchep line at the time.[49] Before the construction of the bus interchange, access to the station was primarily by walking. The station is primarily used as a destination station rather than an origin station,[41] with far more alightings than boardings in the morning and vice versa for the afternoon.[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shave . Doug . Request for West Leederville to be recognised as suburb approved . Media Statements . 8 October 2024 . 3 December 1998.
  2. Book: Planning Boomtown and Beyond . Transport and Land Use Functions of Four Rail Station Configurations in Perth . Courtney . Babb . Ryan . Falconer . Doina . Olaru . Anthony . Duckworth-Smith . Richard . Isted . https://resources.patrec.org/publications/books/boomtown2017/Chapter17-Babb-Falconer-Olaru-Duckworth-Smith-Isted.pdf . 437, 445 . 978-1-74258-908-4 . 2016 . . Planning and Transport Research Centre.
  3. Web site: Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019 . Public Transport Authority . 24 April 2024 . 24 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190724085310/https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/15/AA_DOCUMENTS/Our_system/Freight%20network/PTA%20Rail%20Network%20Map_2019.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: Transperth Zone Map . Transperth . 30 September 2024 . 21 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210921130532/https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Portals/0/Asset/Documents/Tickets%20%26%20Fares/Transperth_zone_map.pdf . live .
  5. Web site: Manual – Rail Access . Public Transport Authority . 30 September 2024 . 9–10.
  6. Web site: Leederville Station . Transperth . 30 September 2024.
  7. Book: Travers Morgan . Pak Poy and Kneebone . Blackwell and Associates . Uloth and Associates . Public Transport for Perth's Northern Suburbs: A Summary of the Northern Suburbs Rapid Transit Study . September 1988 . 6–7.
  8. Book: Urban Rail Electrification Steering Committee . Northern Suburbs Transit System: Transport Study Report . May 1989 . 6, 23.
  9. Book: Urban Rail Electrification Steering Committee . Northern Suburbs Transit System: Perth – Joondalup Railway: Master Plan Executive Summary . State Records Office of Western Australia . November 1989 . 4, 18 . 8 October 2024.
  10. Book: Urban Rail Electrification Steering Committee . Northern Suburbs Transit System: Perth – Joondalup Railway: Progress Summary . June 1991 . 6.
  11. News: Dowding . Simon . 400 at freeway meeting . The West Australian . 6 July 1990 . 22.
  12. Carmen . Lawrence . Premier today announced a review of Main Roads Department plans for the development of Mitchell Freeway between Loftus and Vincent Streets . Government of Western Australia . 5 July 1990 . Curtin University Library . 1–2.
  13. Peter . Newman . Peter Newman (environmental scientist) . Review of Mitchell Freeway widening at Leederville and Lake Monger . July 1990 . 35, 37–39.
  14. Carmen . Lawrence . A compromise solution to the widening of the Mitchell Freeway around Lake Monger was announced today by Premier . Government of Western Australia . 13 August 1990 . Curtin University Library . 35–36 . 30 September 2024 . 10 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240910095521/https://catalogue.curtin.edu.au/view/delivery/61CUR_INST/12191613200001951 . live .
  15. News: Bevis . Stephen . Southgate . Tim . Lake to escape freeway surgery . The West Australian . 14 August 1990 . 5.
  16. Book: Edmonds . Leigh . Leigh Edmonds . The Vital Link: A History of Main Roads Western Australia 1926–1996 . 1997 . University of Western Australia Press . 978-1-876268-06-0 . 261, 395.
  17. Web site: Changes to Mitchell Freeway . Media Statements . 16 July 2024 . 19 June 1992 . 16 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716144122/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Lawrence-Labor-Government/Changes-to-Mitchell-Freeway-19920619 . live .
  18. Book: Annual Report 1991–1992 . Westrail . 1992 . 26.
  19. Web site: Raykos . C. . Dundas . G. S. . Three Cable-Stayed Footbridges . Rail Knowledge Bank . 10 September 2024 . 10 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240910095507/https://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/GetDoc.axd?ctID=MjE1ZTI4YzctZjc1YS00MzQ4LTkyY2UtMDJmNTgxYjg2ZDA5&rID=NjA3MA

    &pID=MTQ3Ng

    &attchmnt=True

    . live .
  20. Web site: Contract awarded for work on Edgewater station . Media Statements . 30 September 2024 . 2 July 1992 . 16 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716145646/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Lawrence-Labor-Government/Contract-awarded-for-work-on-Edgewater-station-19920702 . live .
  21. Book: Builder Construction Yearbook . 1993 . Master Builders' Association of Western Australia . 60–61.
  22. Book: Annual Report 1992–1993 . Westrail . 1993 . 26.
  23. News: Hooker . Peter . Transperth tips rail boom . The West Australian . 21 December 1992 . 4.
  24. Web site: Northern suburbs railway an instant hit . Media Statements . 30 September 2024 . 21 December 1992 . 12 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240712105936/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Lawrence-Labor-Government/Northern-suburbs-railway-an-instant-hit-19921221 . live .
  25. Web site: Inspection of Joondalup train-bus interchange . Media Statements . 4 January 2024 . 21 March 1993 . 26 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726105746/https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Court-Coalition-Government/Inspection-of-Joondalup-train-bus-interchange-19930321 . live .
  26. News: Russell . Mark . History is right on track . The Sunday Times . 21 March 1993 . 9.
  27. News: Hooker . Peter . New rail line faces first big test . The West Australian . 22 March 1993 . 22.
  28. Web site: OnTrack: Issue 3 . New MetroRail . https://web.archive.org/web/20070829000235/http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/NMR/Documents/Resources/Publications/On%20Track/OnTrack%202003-10.pdf . 29 August 2007 . October 2003 . dead . 8.
  29. Web site: OnTrack: Issue 5 . New MetroRail . https://web.archive.org/web/20070829000131/http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/NMR/Documents/Resources/Publications/On%20Track/OnTrack%202004-04.pdf . 29 August 2007 . April 2004 . 4.
  30. Web site: Annual Report 2011–2012 . Public Transport Authority . 30 September 2024 . 50 . 2012.
  31. Web site: Leederville railway works . Public Transport Authority . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205092532/http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Projects/Leedervillerailwayworks/tabid/494/Default.aspx . 5 February 2012 . dead.
  32. Web site: Gov't moves to alleviate CBD congestion . The West Australian . 30 September 2024 . 22 April 2012.
  33. Web site: New bike paths and bus service to cut congestion . ABC News . 30 September 2024 . 22 April 2012 . 31 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161031023804/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-22/plan-to-cut-cbd-congestion/3964952 . live .
  34. Web site: $105million to address CBD congestion . Media Statements . 30 September 2024 . 22 April 2012.
  35. Web site: Leederville Green CAT bus-only lane and bus stop . Public Transport Authority . https://web.archive.org/web/20130504204850/http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Projects/LeedervilleCATbusonlylane/tabid/605/Default.aspx . 4 May 2013 . dead.
  36. Web site: Proposed Service Change – New Green CAT, Yellow CAT and Route 5 . Transperth . 7 March 2013 . 31 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130331002101/http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/ServiceUpdates/ServiceChanges/tabid/132/newsid568/3222/Default.aspx . dead .
  37. Web site: Free Green CAT starts tomorrow . Media Statements . 30 September 2024 . 30 June 2013.
  38. Web site: Preston . Robyn . New $8.2 million Green CAT hits the roads . WAtoday . 30 September 2024 . 1 July 2013 . 23 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523173723/https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/new-8-2-million-green-cat-hits-the-roads-20130630-2p4x6.html . live . limited .
  39. Web site: Offer . Kaitlyn . Transperth prepares train users for major closures . PerthNow . 8 October 2024 . 2 July 2013.
  40. Web site: Orr . Aleisha . The Perth train shutdown – your guide . WAtoday . 8 October 2024 . 8 July 2013.
  41. Web site: Aurecon . Leederville Station Link Design and Feasibility Study Draft Final Report: City of Vincent & Town of Cambridge . City of Vincent . 21 October 2011 . 30 September 2024 . 12 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240712124401/https://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/agenda/2011/20111122/att/LeedervilleStationLinkOct2011Combined.pdf . live .
  42. Web site: Steve . Grant . Councils call for station overhaul . The Perth Voice Interactive . 25 March 2024 . 21 March 2024 . 25 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240325014620/https://perthvoiceinteractive.com/2024/03/21/councils-call-for-station-overhaul/ . live .
  43. Web site: Transperth . Public Transport Authority . 30 September 2024 . 5 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211005173906/https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/our-services/transperth . live .
  44. Web site: Yanchep Line Train Timetable . Transperth . 30 September 2024 . 15 July 2024 . 2 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240902073625/https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetablepdfs/Yanchep%20Line%2020240715.pdf . live .
  45. Web site: Leederville Station Map . Transperth . 30 September 2024 . 17 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240717134958/https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetablePDFs/BusStationMaps/Leederville%20Station.pdf . live .
  46. Web site: Bus Timetable 41 . Transperth . 30 September 2024 . 22 September 2024 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917031030/https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetablepdfs/Bus%20Timetable%2041%2020240922.pdf . live .
  47. Web site: Perth CAT Timetable 203 . Transperth . 30 September 2024 . 3 March 2024.
  48. Web site: Question On Notice No. 4246 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 25 June 2015 by Mr M. Mcgowan . Parliament of Western Australia . 25 July 2022 . 9 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211209212615/https://parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/pquest.nsf/viewLAPQuestByDate/AC77A75A17577DC248257E6E00292CB1 . live .
  49. Web site: Yanchep Rail Extension Project Definition Plan . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 18 . June 2018 . 14 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514063929/https://www.metronet.wa.gov.au/Portals/31/Project%20Documents/Yanchep%20Rail%20Extension/Yanchep%20Rail%20Extension%20PDP%20Summary%20-%20web%20version.pdf . live .