Bayswater Station upgrade out for community consultation

Community consultation for the upgrade of Bayswater Station starts this week with the release of an online survey and local information sessions scheduled soon.

The State Government has released early concept plans for the upgrade of Bayswater Station, which will form a central junction for the future Morley-Ellenbrook and Forrestfield-Airport rail links.

The major project, which has a current allocation of $86.4 million from the last State Budget, is set to start construction next year so it can be completed prior to the opening of the Forrestfield-Airport Link in late 2020.

It will be Bayswater Station's biggest overhaul since it opened in 1896 and is a vital first stage for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line.

Importantly, the project will also include a turnback siding within the existing rail corridor between Meltham and Bayswater stations that can be used to manoeuvre railcars servicing the Forrestfield-Airport Link and Morley-Ellenbrook Line.

The project is a long overdue opportunity to create a new public space at the heart of the Bayswater town centre, which will be the first glimpse of Perth for the thousands of visitors who will emerge from the airport rail tunnel.

While the design of the precinct will be the subject of extensive consultation starting this week, the early concept shows:

• The station will be relocated onto a new lifted rail bridge over King William Street, replacing the existing rail bridge
• The new platforms will be realigned closer to Whatley Crescent and be expanded to 150 metres to accommodate six-car trains
• New public space will be created under and around the future rail bridge, improving connectivity and vibrancy in Bayswater town centre; and
• Tunnelling has been ruled out due to constraints arising from the design of the Forrestfield-Airport Link.  

There are significant elements of the upgrade that require community input, including architecture, station design, public spaces around the station, location and design of a potential bus interchange, parking requirements and landscaping.

The final planning design will ultimately seek to improve the station facilities and amenity, respond to the City of Bayswater's Local Structure Plan for the area and future-proof the station for long-term growth of the rail network.

Sinking the station was investigated but was ruled out due to significant operational and engineering issues, and constraints arising from the design of the Forrestfield-Airport Link. The associated works would also have resulted in Bayswater Station being closed for at least a year. 

Construction of the Bayswater Station upgrade is expected to start in 2019 and be completed by late 2020.