Network and Infrastructure
The PTA’s Network & Infrastructure (N&I) division is responsible for the management and maintenance of the urban passenger rail network, the design and delivery of our asset investment program, and the delivery of our information technology.
N&I has a service level agreement with Transperth Train Operations (TTO), which details its responsibility for the provision and maintenance of the infrastructure required by TTO to operate train services reliably, efficiently and safely.
N&I’s focus is on providing and maintaining our rail infrastructure at a high reliability level. In turn, this enables TTO to provide a highquality train service to the PTA’s customers.
The PTA’s Network & Infrastructure (N&I) division is responsible for the management and maintenance of the urban passenger rail network, the design and delivery of our asset investment program, and the delivery of our information technology.
N&I has a service level agreement with Transperth Train Operations (TTO), which details its responsibility for the provision and maintenance of the infrastructure required by TTO to operate train services reliably, efficiently and safely.
N&I’s focus is on providing and maintaining our rail infrastructure at a high reliability level. In turn, this enables TTO to provide a high-quality train service to the PTA’s customers.
Strategic asset management
To ensure the provision of high-quality train services into the future, it is essential that the PTA continues to maintain and replace its assets.
For this reason, we are enhancing our asset management systems, with an emphasis on long-term planning using the Ellipse tool.
In addition, asset management plans will be developed with a focus on asset performance standards, asset replacement strategies and strategic level asset maintenance requirements over the medium and long-term horizons.
A project team lead by an Executive Director has been established to provide the required focus.
Maintenance
Most of the division’s resources are allocated to maintenance, both planned and breakdown.
Routine maintenance is planned carefully to ensure the infrastructure is both safe and absolutely reliable. This ensures that our customers continue to enjoy a safe, dependable train service.
The division also deploys its resources to ensure a rapid response to any breakdowns, again minimising the impact on customers.
A highly visible category of the assets is the 70 stations. As well as ensuring that all station facilities are reliable, considerable effort is made to have them well presented. This is achieved through regular cleaning and periodic large maintenance items such as high-pressure water cleaning and painting.
Asset investment program
Parking facilities program - Better Transport System (3000 car bays)
The Better Transport System Project will deliver 3000 car bays on the Joondalup and Mandurah lines over the life of the program. In 2008/09, 430 bays were added in the network at Edgewater, Greenwood and Murdoch stations. In 2009-10 a further 1311 car bays were completed at Greenwood, Whitfords, Cockburn, Mandurah, Warnbro, Clarkson and Rockingham stations. The remaining car bays will be completed in 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 at a total cost of $51 million.
Karrinyup bus depot
A major upgrade of this depot was completed. This included a new office complex, workshop facility, refuelling facility (including compressed natural gas and diesel), bus steam cleaning and washdown facility and staff and visitor car park. The total cost was $8.0 million.
Mirrabooka bus station upgrade
The upgrade of the Mirrabooka bus station is being undertaken as the first stage of the Mirrabooka Regional Centre Improvement Strategy (MRCIS), coordinated by the City of Stirling. This upgrade is an essential part of the City’s plan to revitalise this important centre. The works will include improved disability access, improved lighting, improved security systems and a new pavilion-style entrance building incorporating a new kiosk, customer service booth, staff toilets, public toilets, crib room and communications room.
Edgewater Station
A $7 million project to increase the level of weather protection for customers started this year. Additional protection is being provided on the platform, access stairway and footbridge. Disability access will be enhanced through the provision of a new lift to the platform. This major upgrade is scheduled for completed in the first quarter of 2011.
Armadale Station Stage 2
Work has started on the Park ‘n’ Ride facility to include a new drop-off area as well as an additional 100 bays. The east entrance to the station is being developed and permanent parking facilities being constructed. It is scheduled for completion by end-2010 at a budgeted cost of $2.5 million.
Fremantle Station upgrade
Fremantle Station is undergoing a program of staged conservation and restoration works in line with the Conservation Plan prepared in 1999. This includes the restoration of the main entry façade, refurbishment of most of the internal areas and an electrical upgrade including a new point-of-supply to bring the station up to modern standards. The works will incorporate the restoration of the front and side external facades of the station building at an estimated cost of $2.2 million with the completion in 2011.
Kwinana training centre
The training centre will consist of two 20-person classrooms and associated parking, plus about 400m of track with overhead masts and wiring, two turnouts (equivalent to the PTA’s most complex), a level crossing with boom gates and pedestrian crossing with automatic gates. The facility will enable the appropriate safe training of all PTA personnel in a non-live but realistic environment which will ensure that our people can carry out their tasks safely and efficiently.
Concrete re-sleepering project
Concrete sleepers offer improved passenger comfort, system reliability and increased speeds during hot summer days. The double dual-gauge Midland line was re-sleepered in July-September 2009. This was the last of the branch lines to be re-sleepered, leaving only the four tracks between Claisebrook and the city to complete on the urban network.
Central Monitoring Room upgrade
The degree to which PTA’s customers feel safe is a very important aspect of providing a high-quality service and a key component of our security is our extensive closed-circuit TV (CCTV) camera network and associated Central Monitoring Room (CMR). The substantial expansion of the rail network and associated increase in camera numbers as a result of the opening of the Mandurah Line - plus the expectation of further increases in the future - meant an upgraded CMR was needed and preliminary work started on a bigger, better-equipped room. This facility will play an important role in ensuring the PTA is able to provide a rapid response to any security incidents.
Upgrade of signal power supplies
The signalling system is a critical part of our operating system and any interruption to the power supply can considerably disrupt our services. To guarantee continuity, uninterrupted power supplies are being installed throughout the network at a cost of $2.3m.
Websites - customer interaction
The PTA has completed technology refresher programs and customer interface improvements on some major websites. PTA customers can now more quickly and easily retrieve information such as train running times and bookings.
Our IT Branch is also responsible for continuing infrastructure support initiatives to ensure and further enhance customer interfacing systems such as back-office SmartRider systems.