Alkimos railway station

Alkimos railway station is an under-construction suburban rail station in Alkimos, Western Australia. The station is being constructed as part of the Yanchep Rail Extension of Transperth's Joondalup line, and is planned to open on 15 July 2024.

Alkimos
Alkimos station construction in August 2023
General information
Location	Alkimos, Western Australia Australia
Coordinates	31°36′52″S 115°41′33″E / 31.614446°S 115.692399°E / -31.614446; 115.692399 (Alkimos Station)
Owned by	Public Transport Authority
Operated by	Public Transport Authority
Line(s)	Joondalup line
Distance	43.0 km (26.7 mi) from Perth Underground
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Bus stands	8
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Cutting
Parking	Approximately 600 bays
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Status	Under construction
Fare zone	5
History
Opening	15 July 2024
Passengers
Predicted	3,616 per day in 2031
Services
Preceding station Transperth Following station Opening in 2024 Butler towards Elizabeth Quay Joondalup line Eglinton towards Yanchep
Location Location of Alkimos station

Description

Alkimos station is in Alkimos, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia. It is located north of Romeo Road and east of Marmion Avenue in an area undeveloped as of construction.^[1] The station is 43.0 kilometres (26.7 mi) from Perth Underground station and is in fare zone five.^[2] The adjacent stations are Butler to the south and Eglinton to the north.^[3]

The station will consist of two side platforms sunk into a cutting. On top of the platforms will be a large ground-level concourse, which will connect down to the platform by a set of lifts, escalators, and stairs. North of the station itself will be a bus interchange with eight stands on top of the railway, and further north, on either side of the railway will be two car parks with 600 bays in total. Other facilities will include parking for bicycles and toilets. The station will be fully accessible.^[3]

Unlike the other stations on the Yanchep Rail Extension, the land surrounding Alkimos station is government owned and will be developed by LandCorp. Alkimos and Eglinton combined are planned to have a population of 60,000 when they are fully developed, and the land around the station, known as "Alkimos Central", is planned to become a "city centre' for the surrounding area, with 15,000 jobs.^[4][5][6]

Public art

On the station's interior concourse is an artwork titled Moon Over Ocean, Land Under Sun, by Caroline Christie-Coxon. This consists of two glazed discs either side of the entryway.^[7] On the ceiling is an artwork by Jarni McGuire representing the mythical Rainbow Serpent and inspired by the Melaleuca paperbark tree. On the platform walls is a mural by Chris Nixon using horizontal lines to represent the coastline and waves washing up on the beach.^[8]

History

The original stage of the Joondalup line began construction in November 1989.^[9] It was opened between Perth station and Joondalup station on 20 December 1992,^[10] and extended to Currambine station on 8 August 1993.^[11] An extension to Clarkson station opened on 4 October 2004^[12] and an extension to Butler station opened on 21 September 2014.^[13][14]

To cater for continuous population growth in the northern suburbs of Perth, in 2017, the government initiated the Yanchep Rail Extension, an extension of the Joondalup line 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) to Yanchep, with three new stations: Alkimos, Eglinton, and Yanchep. The Yanchep Rail Extension was part of the government's wider Metronet project to expand and upgrade Perth's rail network, and was delivered by the Public Transport Authority (PTA). The PTA chose to put the Yanchep Rail Extension under the same contract as the Thornlie–Cockburn Link.^[3] The contract for the Yanchep Rail Extension and the Thornlie–Cockburn Link was awarded to the NEWest Alliance, a joint venture of CPB Contractors and Downer.^[15][16]

 

Alkimos station viewed from a drone in February 2023

Earthworks for the Yanchep Rail Extension began in mid-2020.^[17] Designs for Alkimos station were revealed in August 2020.^[18] The first major concrete pour for Alkimos station occurred in March 2021.^[19] By October 2022, construction of the platform and concourse had begun.^[20] By May 2023, the station's four escalators had been installed.^[21] By March 2024, the station's structure was complete and internal fittings and furniture was being installed. Landscaping was underway and the public art pieces were being installed.^[22]

Opening

The Yanchep Rail Extension was originally meant to open in late 2021.^[3] This was first delayed to 2022. After the September 2021 state budget, the extension was delayed to late 2023.^[23][24][25] After the May 2023 state budget, the government said that the Yanchep extension "is due for completion at the end of 2023, with services commencing in the new year".^[26] At the end of 2023, the Yanchep extension was still under construction and services were planned to commence in the first half of 2024.^[27][28] In April 2024, it was announced the Yanchep Rail Extension would open on 15 July 2024, with an opening ceremony and celebrations the day before on 14 July 2024.^[29][30]

Services

Alkimos station will be served by the Joondalup line on the Transperth network.^[31] Services are operated by the PTA.^[32] The line will go between Yanchep and Elizabeth Quay station in the Perth central business district, continuing south from there as the Mandurah line.^[31] It is expected that a train journey would take 41 minutes from Alkimos to Perth. It is projected that Alkimos station will have 3,616 boardings per day by 2031.^[3]

The planned bus network will have four bus routes serving Alkimos station. Routes 485 and 486 are planned to run south to Butler station. Routes 491 and 492 are planned to run north to Eglinton station. These routes are planned to have peak headways of 10 minutes, lowering to 30 minute headways between peaks and 60 minute headways on weekends and public holidays, except for route 492, which will have 30 minute headways on Saturdays.^[33]

References

1. "Alkimos Station Fact Sheet" (PDF). Metronet. August 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
2. "Transperth Zone Map" (PDF). Transperth. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
3. "Yanchep Rail Extension Project Definition Plan" (PDF). Metronet. June 2018. pp. 2, 4. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
4. Emery, Kate (6 September 2018). "Alkimos train station works on Yanchep line signals start of Metronet". The West Australian. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
5. Kagi, Jacob (6 September 2018). "Alkimos to become Perth's next northern suburbs hub as part of Metronet rail extension". ABC News. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
6. Hastie, Hamish (6 September 2018). "Alkimos' future revealed". WAtoday. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
7. METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension – Public Art Installation by Caroline Christie Coxon. Metronet. 8 December 2023 – via YouTube.
8. "Yanchep Rail Extension: Public Art". Metronet. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
9. "Our history". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
10. Acott, Kent (18 December 2017). "Joondalup and Mandurah train lines celebrate significant anniversaries". The West Australian. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
11. . Media Statements. 17 July 1993. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
12. . Media Statements. 4 October 2004. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
13. "Butler train station and rail extension opens". ABC News. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
14. "Barnett opens rail extension as first train leaves Butler station". WAtoday. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
15. "WA Government signs contracts with NEWest Alliance". Railway Technology. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
16. "Major contract signed". Metronet. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
17. "Eight months of milestones for Yanchep Rail Extension". Metronet. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
18. Jarvis, Lucy (11 August 2020). "Latest station designs revealed for Yanchep rail extension". PerthNow. Wanneroo Times. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
19. "Yanchep Rail Extension taking shape". Metronet. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
20. "Shaping up at Alkimos Station". Metronet. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
21. "One small step for Yanchep, one giant leap for Perth-kind!". Metronet. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
22. "Finishing touches for all stations". Metronet. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
23. "Project schedules adjusted to suit current economic conditions". Metronet. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
24. Clarke, Jenna (9 September 2021). "Metronet projects, including Thornlie-Cockburn link and Yanchep train line, will be delayed by 12-months". The West Australian. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
25. de Kruijff, Peter (9 September 2021). "State projects delayed to ease pressure on 'hot' WA construction market". WAtoday. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
26. "State Budget delivers continued METRONET investment". Metronet. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
27. Dietsch, Jake (22 December 2023). "First test run for $1.8b Metronet Yanchep rail extension marks major milestone after years of delays". The West Australian. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
28. "Joint media statement – First test train on track at Yanchep". Media Statements. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
29. "Joint Media Statement - Date Announced For First Train Services On Metronet Yanchep Rail Extension". Media Statements. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
30. Dietsch, Jake (23 April 2024). "Metronet project: July opening date announced from Butler to Yanchep railway extension". The West Australian. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
31. "Joondalup Line Train Timetable" (PDF). Transperth. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
32. "Transperth". Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
33. "Alkimos and Eglinton Stations Supporting Bus Network" (PDF). My Say Transport. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

External links

• Alkimos station animation on YouTube