Perth visit December 2017

[ozbob]

Plan to spend some time in Perth in December, and then on to Melbourne for Christmas with Mum ( and 10 minute trains ..  ).

Apart from checking out Transperth I plan to go on the Prospector to Kalgoorlie.  It can be done as a return journey on a single day, although a long day ...

http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Plan-your-journey/The-Prospector

[ozbob]

Going to aim for Monday 18th December (bookings can only be made within 3 months of travel) for The Prospector

Depart East Perth 7.10am -  arrive Kalgoorlie 2pm

Depart Kalgoorlie 3pm  - arrive East Perth 9.35pm

[ozbob]

My Smartrider locked and loaded!

[ozbob]

Sunday 17th Dec  might head to Bennett Brook Railway http://bbr.org.au/

The Bennett Brook Railway is located in Whiteman Park, just 16 km from the city of Perth, Western Australia.

Whiteman Park is open to the Public 7 days a week.

Travelling via train, you can get off at the Bassendean Train Station and then catch the 955 bus service.

https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/visitor-info/how-to-get-here/

There is a bus stop directly outside our Lord Street entrance. When you arrive, please use the courtesy phone located on the southern side of the entrance shelter to call Caversham Wildlife Park for a courtesy pick up on weekdays, or wait at the internal bus stop for weekend shuttle services (see Courtesy bus services below).

You can walk to the Village from the Lord Street entrance via the bicycle/walk path behind the Natural Area Management buildings. Locate the Whiteman Park Information sign, cross the carpark and you will find the entrance to the path. Note that it is a 2km walk to the Village. The Walk/Cycle Map shows the location of the path in relation to the road and Lord Street entrance.

Perth Station Catch Train Midland Line, Perth Stn Platform 8 to Bassendean Stn Platform 2 - 09:45am - 10:01am (16 mins)

Walk To Bassendean Stn Stand 3 Catch Bus 955
Bassendean Station  to Lord St Before Youle-Dean Rd (Stop Number 15529) - 10:06am - 10:21am (15 mins)

[SurfRail]

Whiteman Park is definitely worth a visit - not just the railway but the buses and the local and non-WA trams clattering around.

[ozbob]

Whiteman Park is definitely worth a visit - not just the railway but the buses and the local and non-WA trams clattering around.

Thanks for the reminder.  I had forgotten about the other transport vehicles there too.  Looking forward to checking it all out.

One of the volunteers at Bennet Brook Rly has kindly offered to show me around too, winning!   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/flytplan/status/895941012840890368

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP/status/899454888945434624

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/899534899161333761

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/BBRailway/status/899897540119740416

[ozbob]

Transwa Prospector



>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transwa_Prospector

History

With the standard gauge line from Perth to Kalgoorlie due to open in mid-1969, the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) decided to replace The Kalgoorlie overnight sleeper service with a daylight service. The new service commenced on 29 November 1971, cutting the 653-kilometre (406 mi) journey time from fourteen to eight hours. With an average speed of 85 km/h, it was the fastest service in Australia.

Rolling stock

In 1968 Comeng, Granville were awarded a contract to build eight WAGR WCA/WCE class railcars.

Built to take advantage of the generous loading gauge on the new line, they were the largest carriages ever built in Australia. They were the first trains in Australia to have at-seat catering. These held the record for the highest speed attained by an Australian train until bettered by a New South Wales XPT in September 1981.

In December 2000 Westrail awarded a contract to United Goninan, Broadmeadow for seven Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class railcars to replace the original railcars.

The first entered service on 28 June 2004. The new railcars are capable of 200 km/h (124 mph), but track conditions restrict their top speed to 160 km/h (99 mph). Nonetheless they further reduced journey times to 6 hours 45 minutes.

[SurfRail]

Me and a few friends nearly drank the Prospector out of XXXX on a trip some years back.

Nice day trip is to head out to Kal on the train in the morning and fly back in the early evening.

[ozbob]

I had thought about flying one way, but I have flown Kalgoorlie/Perth before so I think I will do rail both ways this time.

I won't have a beer until we depart Kalgoorlie on the return journey, so hopefully they will not run out !   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/905712194465050624

[ozbob]

Only one day before I can book for the Prospector.

https://secure.transwa.wa.gov.au/bookingsexpress.aspx

I checked the option of flying back from Kalgoorlie to Perth but I would arrive at 8pm.  Train gets back at 9.25pm so it will be rail both ways.

[ozbob]

^  booked on the Prospector!   (first of 100 seats available  car 1 seat 25   window seat  )

[ozbob]

Might cross one of these on the way to Kalgoorlie ... 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/922624574105174019

[ozbob]

Journey Planner Link for visit to BB Rly on Sunday 17th December

> http://bit.ly/2APX1oO

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/937208377427427328

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/941690756309250050

[Gazza]

Be sure to check out Kelmscott station on the Armidale line. It has a busway built down the middle of the platform (With bus only LX at either end) to allow for seamless transfer.

Rockingham on the Mandurah line has a busway linking the station with the suburbs CBD.

Warwick station has a concrete deck roof with an interchange on top. This is what Indro should have

[ozbob]

Be sure to check out Kelmscott station on the Armidale line. It has a busway built down the middle of the platform (With bus only LX at either end) to allow for seamless transfer.

Rockingham on the Mandurah line has a busway linking the station with the suburbs CBD.

Warwick station has a concrete deck roof with an interchange on top. This is what Indro should have

Thanks for the heads up.  At BNE, will be boarding soon.  Cheers!

I have been to Kelmscott last January, very unusual!  Hopefully will have a look at Warwick, been to Rockingham but I plan to go to Mandurah one day next week.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/941831324200968192

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/941929814314827776

[ozbob]

Good Morning from Perth.  Off to Bennett Brook Railway today!

Have fun on the G: 

Journey Planner Link for visit to BB Rly on Sunday 17th December

> http://bit.ly/2APX1oO

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942199541708627968

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942199521320112128

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942201522716270592

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942186907131305984

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942187385533509632

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942254533710823424

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942273936292659200

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942215416700534784

[ozbob]

These train arrival time displays are positioned so that bus drivers know to wait for rail connection. It is these elegant but simple things that make the network truly connected. At Bassendean adjacent to bus stops.

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942211958400475136

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942207408385884160

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942305942384754688

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942306270886764544

[SurfRail]

These train arrival time displays are positioned so that bus drivers know to wait for rail connection. It is these elegant but simple things that make the network truly connected. At Bassendean adjacent to bus stops.

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942211958400475136

It's the consistency about things like this which really make Perth.  Every bus stand at every station AFAIK has these.

[ozbob]

Off to Kalgoorlie today.  It is so damn easy getting around on the Transperth network.  Will do most lines tomorrow but the frequency and bus connections makes it all work pretty seamlessly.  We really are a major embarrassment in SEQ.  More of the same blunder from TransLink and TMR is not going to do much in the big picture.  We really need to get PT out there in a proper authority like the PTA of WA. 

I was telling a Transperth train driver the gory details of rail fail etc. yesterday, he was in shock!  Found it very hard to understand how such a mess could manifest, and then I let go about the NGRs.  He found very it very difficult to understand how such a monumental botch could occur.  Praised our efforts though to try to get an audit and subsequently an Inquiry, and for highlighting the problems.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942510653570297856

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942513071867674624

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942516902517018624

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942523026179964928

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942529272232558592

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942533460207345664

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942531273553199105

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/942580951883792385