PTA upgrading Fremantle freight line pedestrian crossings

The Public Transport Authority is working with the City of Fremantle to improve the amenity of a section of freight rail from the Round House in the heart of the city, along the coastline to South Beach.

With an eye to next year’s world sailing championships in Fremantle, the PTA has budgeted $1.3 million to upgrade and improve 12 pedestrian crossings over the freight line to bring them up to the current requirements of the Disability Standard for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT).

A further five crossings, which would be too difficult to make compliant and for which the patronage numbers could not justify the cost of an upgrade, are being closed.

This still leaves the 2.7km section of track averaging a crossing every 225m, compared with 20 crossings over the full 19km of the Fremantle passenger line, an average of almost one per kilometre.

The PTA has been working closely with the council since September last year.  Plans include supporting the council in a special project to beautify an area of railway land in the Round House crossing precinct.

The 12-month program of works is expected to start at the Duoro Road crossing next month.  The amount, complexity and duration of work will differ at each crossing depending on its location and its requirements.

The first closure, Wilson Park, is planned for June after the completion of work at the Duoro Road, Beach Access and South Street crossings.  The other crossings set for closure are at Jenkin Street, Grey Street, Russell Street and Esplanade Station South.

Details of the project and the planned closures, which were advertised in the local newspapers earlier this month, are published on the PTA website (www.pta.wa.gov.au) under Projects.

PTA media contact
Telephone: 08) 9326 2526 
Mobile: 0438 919 548
Email: media@pta.wa.gov.au