Out-of-hours work

Details of upcoming out-of-hours work within the PTA rail reserve

Each week the Public Transport Authority (PTA) undertakes a range of essential maintenance activities to ensure the continued and safe operation of the rail network. To minimise disruption to passenger services, much of this work is required to take place outside of standard construction hours (i.e. before 7am, after 7pm, Sunday or on a public holiday), either after trains have stopped running, or during a scheduled shutdown of the line.

The PTA appreciates that out-of-hours work has the potential to cause disturbance to people living close to the rail reserve and has historically provided notice of upcoming work via hard-copy letter. As the network continues to expand, the PTA has resolved that the practice of delivering hard-copy letters is no longer sustainable. Upcoming out-of-hours works will now be published via this webpage and email notifications. Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), which manages compliance with the Regulations, are aware that the PTA's online publication of upcoming out-of-hours works will continue as the primary method of notification. The PTA will continue to deliver hard-copy letters to residents living near major infrastructure project sites; this webpage is intended to provide details of routine maintenance only.

The below table provides details of upcoming out-of-hours work across the PTA rail network. To identify work which may impact you, please enter your suburb in the search bar at the top of the table. The glossary below the table provides explanations of the most common types of maintenance undertaken.

To reduce the need for residents to proactively check this webpage to find out about work near them, the PTA has implemented an email notification system. If you would like to receive notice of out-of-hours work near you via email, please register using the sign-up form below.

The website is correct at the time of publication and may not be reflective of work that has been cancelled, rescheduled or emergency work that may be undertaken with no notice.

If you would like more information or have any questions about upcoming out-of-hours work near you, please email nightwork@pta.wa.gov.au, or call 13 62 13.

Upcoming out-of-hours work within the PTA rail reserve

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Glossary of common maintenance activities and terms

Maintenance activities:

OLE maintenance: general inspection and maintenance of the overhead line equipment (OLE) which supplies power to railcars. Usually involves the use of a road-rail vehicle with an elevated work platform (e.g., cherry picker) attachment and hand tools.

Rail grinding: grinding of the rail to remove minor defects (small amounts of metal) and maintain the profile (shape) of the track. Required to extend the life of the rail, reduce operational noise, and improve passenger comfort during travel. Involves the use of a rail grinding track machine which travels along the rail line.

Regulating and tamping: maintenance of the ballast trackbed using specialised maintenance track machine to compact, shape and distribute ballast around the tracks and sleepers.

Re-railing: replacement of rail sections using a range of machinery including a loader and welding equipment.

Rail maintenance: inspection and maintenance of the track, replacing sleepers. Usually includes the use of hand tools, mini excavators and bobcats.

Platform maintenance/vehicle and pedestrian level crossing maintenance: inspection and maintenance of the platform, including replacement of yellow lines, rectification of platforms and crossings. This can involve using various tools and equipment such as jack hammers, compactors, and power tools.

Vegetation maintenance: trimming, pruning or removal of vegetation surrounding train stations and within the rail corridor. Usually uses electric hedge trimmers, chainsaws and electric saws.

Weed spraying: spraying of weeds on the track and rail batters using a road-rail vehicle.

Ballast delivery: crushed stones which form the foundation (or trackbed) on which the track and sleepers sit. Ballast is packed around the sleepers with a shoulder of ballast piled on either side to prevent movement of the track. Delivery will use trucks, loaders and bobcats.

Signalling maintenance: maintenance of signalling equipment within the rail corridor. This activity mainly uses hand tools but on occasion power tools.

Specialised equipment:

Road-rail vehicle: a specialised vehicle with two sets of wheels (rubber and steel), capable of operating on both regular road and railway track. Usually used to conduct patrols, OLE maintenance, and to access maintenance sites.

Maintenance train: a specialised train which undertakes maintenance as it travels along the rail line. Types include rail grinders, tampers and regulators.

Tamper and regulator: a piece of rail equipment used to shape and distribute the gravel ballast that supports the rail tracks. They are often used in conjunction with ballast tampers when maintaining track. A tamper is a self-propelled, rail-mounted machine used to pack (or tamp) the ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks and roadbed more durable and level.

Speno Ultrasonic test train: runs over rail to detect flaws. A diesel-run locomotive.

The PTA acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this site may contain images or names of people who are deceased.