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Oats Street railway station

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Coordinates: 31°59′13″S 115°54′57″E / 31.986999°S 115.915863°E / -31.986999; 115.915863
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Oats Street
A Transperth B-series train at Oats Street station in September 2021
General information
LocationOats Street & Rutland Avenue & Bank Street, Carlisle / East Victoria Park
Western Australia
Australia
Coordinates31°59′13″S 115°54′57″E / 31.986999°S 115.915863°E / -31.986999; 115.915863
Owned byPublic Transport Authority
Operated byPublic Transport Authority
Line(s)South Western Railway
Distance8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) from Perth
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus
Construction
ParkingYes
Bicycle facilitiesYes
Other information
StatusTemporarily closed
Fare zone1
History
Opened28 November 1954
Closed20 November 2023
Rebuilt20 November 2023–mid-2025
Passengers
20191,766 per weekday
Services
Preceding station Transperth Transperth Following station
Before closure
Carlisle
towards Perth
 Armadale line
All stops, B
 Queens Park
towards Armadale
Thornlie line
T
 Queens Park
towards Thornlie
Claisebrook
towards Perth
 Armadale line
C
 Cannington
towards Armadale
Perth Stadium
towards Perth
 Armadale line
C weekends
Location
Map
Location of Oats Street station

Oats Street railway station is a temporarily-closed Transperth suburban railway station in Western Australia, located in the Perth suburbs of Carlisle and East Victoria Park. The station was served by the Armadale and Thornlie lines prior to its closure in November 2023.

Oats Street station opened on 28 November 1954, as the introduction of diesel railcars made it possible to build stations closer together. The station consisted of two side platforms north of the Oats Street level crossing. The CircleRoute bus began operating in 1998, allowing access to Curtin University from the Armadale line. A bus interchange was constructed soon thereafter, and Oats Street soon became one of the most important stations on the Armadale line. The Thornlie line opened in 2005, with Oats Street station being one of the few transfer stations between the two lines, further increasing its importance. Since 20 November 2023, the station has been closed to allow for the railway to be elevated and for Oats Street station to be rebuilt as an elevated station, as part of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project. The new station will straddle Oats Street and feature an expanded bus interchange. It is planned to reopen in mid-2025.

Prior to closure, the Armadale and Thornlie lines each had a 15-minute frequency, reducing to every 30 minutes at night. The Thornlie line was less frequent on Sundays, operating every 30 minutes, and the Armadale line was more frequent during peak hour. Bus routes from Oats Street station went to Airport Central station, Kalamunda bus station, Curtin University, Belmont, and Kewdale.

Description

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Electric multiple unit train arriving at a bitumen train platform. The platform has a small shelter on it.
A Transperth A-series train arriving at Oats Street station

Oats Street station is on the boundary of Carlisle and East Victoria Park, which are suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The station is between Rutland Avenue to the east and Bank Street to the west.[1] The station is along the South Western Railway, which links Perth and Bunbury,[2] and is owned by the Public Transport Authority (PTA).[3] Adjacent stations are Carlisle station to the north-west and Queens Park to the south-east.[4] Oats Street station is 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Perth station[5] and is in fare zone one.[6]

Before it was demolished, Oats Street station consisted of two 100-metre (330 ft) side platforms. At each end of the platforms were level crossings for pedestrians. As these level crossings had gaps of up to 75 millimetres (3.0 in), the station was not considered fully accessible. On the west side of the station was a bus interchange with four bus stands. There were three car parks around the station for a total of 73 car bays. Other amenities included bike shelters and transit officer booths.[4][1]

The surrounding area predominantly consists of low density residential development, with some light industrial to the south. There is also the Carlisle campus of the South Metropolitan TAFE directly to the west of Oats Street station.[7]

History

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Diesel railcars were introduced to Perth's rail network in 1954. The diesel railcars had faster acceleration than steam trains, which allowed for more stations to open. Oats Street station opened on 28 November 1954 as an infill station between Carlisle and Welshpool stations, along with six other stations on the same day: Ashfield, Higham (now known as Beckenham station), Grant Street, Stokely, Loch Street, and Victoria Street.[8][9][10]

On 16 February 1998, the first stage of the CircleRoute bus route launched. This stage went from Fremantle station to Oats Street station via Curtin University.[11] The second stage opened on 22 February 1999, forming a full loop around Perth.[12] The Oats Street bus interchange was built between 1998 and 2002 to make transferring between bus and train easier. This yielded a 22 percent increase in patronage at Oats Street station for 2002 compared to 1998.[13][14] Oats Street station has since become an important station for people travelling to Curtin University and the Carlisle TAFE campus.[15]

The original plans for the Mandurah line had it branch off the Armadale line at Kenwick, which would have meant an increase in trains at Oats Street station. The South West Metropolitan Railway Master Plan, published in 1999, said that Oats Street station would become a transfer point between the Mandurah and Armadale lines, with Mandurah line trains running express along most of the Armadale line. It therefore said that Oats Street station would need to be grade separated and rebuilt. It would either become elevated over Oats Street or in a trench; further planning was not done due to the site's constraints.[16]

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 cancelled all proposed works at Oats Street station.[17] The Thornlie line opened on 7 August 2005[18][19] and the Armadale line became a predominantly express service, stopping at only Oats Street between Claisebrook and Cannington stations, making Oats Street an interchange between the two lines.[10]

Between April and August 2020, the bus interchange at Oats Street station was expanded northwards, which increased the number of bus stands from two to four and added three layover bays. The upgrade allowed for articulated buses to use the station and enabled more bus services, including specifically a new route between Oats Street and Airport Central stations when the Airport line opened on 9 October 2022.[20]

Level Crossing Removal Project

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Railway level crossing with boom gates blocking the road and a sign with red flashing lights indicating a train will be coming through
Oats Street level crossing with the boom gates down

Before the 2017 state election, the Labor Party promised to remove the Oats Street level crossing if they were elected.[21][22] Following the Labor Party's successful election, Metronet was formed to manage upgrades to Perth's rail network.[23] More level crossings were added to the project in 2019, forming the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project, which will remove six level crossings on the Armadale line.[24][25][26] 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 near Carlisle station to south of 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".[27][28][29]

An excavator on a sandy, fenced-off construction site.
Oats Street station post demolition in December 2023

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.[30][31][32] In August 2022, the A$701 million contract was signed with the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance, a consortium of Acciona Construction, BMD Constructions, WSP and AECOM.[33][34] The 18 month shutdown commenced on 20 November 2023.[35][36]

The new Oats Street station will straddle Oats Street, with entrance buildings on both sides of the road. The station will have 150-metre (490 ft) long side platforms. Each entrance building will have one lift and one set of stairs to each platform, with provisions for escalators in the future. The station will be staffed, unlike before the rebuild. There will be two bicycle storage rooms with capacity for 78 bicycles in total, and a car park with approximately 100 bays. The new bus interchange will be on the southern side of the station, and it will have eight bus stands and four layover bays. The station will be positioned on the southern side of the rail corridor, which will allow for expansion to four tracks in the future.[37][38]

Services

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Bus-only road with four bus stops
The upgraded Oats Street station bus interchange in November 2023

Armadale and Thornlie line trains stopped at Oats Street station, making it a transfer point between the two lines. These services formed part of the Transperth system and were operated by the PTA.[39] The Armadale line went between Perth station and Armadale station along the South Western Railway.[2] The Thornlie line went between Perth station and Thornlie station, branching off at Kenwick.[6]

Thornlie line trains stopped at all stations between Cannington and Claisebrook stations, whereas Armadale line trains generally skipped all stations between Cannington and Claisebrook stations. The Armadale line had 15 minute headways all week, with three extra trains during peak hour. Frequency at night was every half an hour. The Thornlie line had 15 minute headways from Monday to Saturday, dropping to every half an hour on Sundays and at night. Service hours were between approximately 5 am and midnight, extending to 2 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.[40]

Six regular bus routes went to Oats Street station.[1] Route 37 went between Oats Street station and Airport Central station via Belmont.[41] Routes 282 and 283 went between Elizabeth Quay bus station in the Perth central business district to Kalamunda bus station via Oats Street station.[42] Route 285 went between Oats Street station and Kewdale.[43] Routes 999 and 998, also known as the CircleRoute, travel in a loop around Perth, and linked Oats Street station to Curtin University bus station and Belmont.[44] During the temporary closure, bus services have bypassed Oats Street station. Rail replacement bus services service bus stops on Shepperton Road.[45]

In the 2013–14 financial year, Oats Street station had 704,498 boardings, making it the third most used station on the Armadale and Thornlie lines, below Cannington and Perth stations.[46] In 2019, the station had an average of 1,766 boardings per weekday. This is expected to rise to 3,916 boardings per weekday in 2031.[47]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Oats Street Station Map" (PDF). Transperth. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Arnold, John (2006). A History of Bringing the Rails to Pinjarra: The Southwest Railway of Western Australia. Pinjarra Visitor Centre. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-646-14228-9.
  3. ^ "Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Oats Street Station". Transperth. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Manual – Rail Access" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. p. 59−63. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Transperth Zone Map" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Appendix A – Detailed Site Description" (PDF). WA.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  8. ^ "New Timetables For Suburbans". The Sunday Times. 21 November 1954. p. 6. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Advertising". The West Australian. 27 November 1954. p. 22. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ a b Higham, Geoffrey (2007). Marble Bar to Mandurah: A History of Passenger Rail Services in Western Australia. Rail Heritage WA. pp. 87, 239. ISBN 978-0-9599690-9-2.
  11. ^ "Launch of first stage of Transperth Circle Route bus service at Murdoch Uni". Media Statements. 16 February 1998. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Official inauguration of 50km extension to popular Circleroute for buses". Media Statements. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Budget funding – southern suburbs". Media Statements. 30 April 1998. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Western Australian Government Railways Commission Annual Report 2002" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. 2002. p. 11. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  15. ^ "History of Stations on the Armadale Train Line" (PDF). Right Track. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008.
  16. ^ "South West Metropolitan Railway Master Plan". New MetroRail. March 1999. pp. 28–30, 43, 47. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.
  17. ^ "Perth Urban Rail Development Project – Supplementary Master Plan" (PDF). New MetroRail. August 2002. p. 108. ISBN 0-7307-2426-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007.
  18. ^ "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 5 September 2023.
  19. ^ "OnTrack: Issue 10" (PDF). New MetroRail. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2007.
  20. ^ "Oats Street Station Bus Interchange Upgrade". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  21. ^ McNeill, Heather (15 February 2017). "WA votes Denny Avenue as state's most dangerous road in RAC survey". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  22. ^ Caporn, Dylan (6 February 2017). "Labor to remove rail crossings". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Annual Report 2016–2017" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  24. ^ 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 5 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Plans to remove level crossings on Armadale train line". PerthNow. Comment News. 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  26. ^ "METRONET boom gate blitz planned for Armadale Line". Media Statements. 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  36. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (20 November 2023). "Armadale Line shutdown: Smooth-sailing on first morning but 'potentially significant' disruption to come". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  37. ^ "Carlisle and Oats Street Train Stations, Station Precincts and Public Realm – Development Application No. 2" (PDF). WA.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. pp. 41–42, 49–50. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Oats Street Station Fact Sheet" (PDF). Metronet. July 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Transperth". Public Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  40. ^ "Armadale/Thornlie Line Train Timetable" (PDF). Transperth. 10 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  41. ^ "Bus Timetable 90" (PDF). Transperth. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Bus Timetable 94" (PDF). Transperth. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  43. ^ "Bus Timetable 89" (PDF). Transperth. 10 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  44. ^ "CircleRoute Timetable 200" (PDF). Transperth. 31 March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Oats St Station flyer" (PDF). Transperth. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 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 5 September 2023.
  47. ^ "Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project Definition Plan" (PDF). Metronet. August 2022. pp. 13, 27–28. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.

Further reading

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