Bayswater Bridge will be removed to allow for construction of a new station, realignment of the Midland Line, connection of the new Morley-Ellenbrook Line, and the completion of the Leake Street underpass, as part of METRONET in Western Australia.
Along with the removal of the old Bayswater Bridge, which has been infamous for its low clearance, approximately 1.8km of new track and other rail systems will be installed, allowing the Midland and Airport Lines to begin running on the new and higher Bayswater rail bridge from 26 April 2023.
Critical works means a 26-day shutdown of Midland and Airport lines from 31 March to 26 April 2023. The shutdown comes on the back of a number of recent milestones on the project, including installation of precast concrete planks for the new elevated southern platform and the concrete slab for the station concourse, which will allow structural steel works to begin. Laying of the first new tracks at the station will also occur in late February 2023.
Western Australian Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said, “This 26-day closure of the Midland and Airport lines marks the end of the old Bayswater Bridge and creates space for work to start on the second half of the new Bayswater Station.
“When completed, the new Bayswater Station will become a key connection point, joining the Midland, Airport and the future Morley-Ellenbrook lines.”
During the 26-day shutdown train replacement bus services will be operating, with Transperth providing detailed information to ensure customers are aware of the alternative options available.
While the Midland and Airport Lines will reopen from 26 April, Bayswater Station will remain closed until September 2023. The decision to keep the station closed will ensure passenger safety while critical work on the 150m-long elevated southern platform and station area is completed.
The Western Australian Government recognises the inconvenience this will cause, and as a goodwill gesture, the Public Transport Authority will provide three months of free travel to eligible Bayswater Station passengers.
Details of how this scheme will operate will be released in the lead-up to the closure. The free travel will be for existing, regular passengers who use a SmartRider to travel on train services to/from Bayswater Station.
After the demolition of the historic Bayswater Bridge a free celebratory community event on 30 April will be held. The community celebration topped more than 340 public suggestions to farewell the infamous old bridge, and will feature entertainment, food stalls and bridge memorabilia.
