Alkimos railway station explained

Alkimos
Style:Transperth
Style2:YAN
Address:Alkimos, Western Australia
Country:Australia
Distance: from Perth Underground
Connections:Bus
Bus Stands:8
Structure:Cutting
Platform:2 side platforms
Tracks:2
Parking:Approximately 600 bays
Bicycle:Yes
Accessible:Yes
Owned:Public Transport Authority
Operator:Public Transport Authority
Zone:5
Passengers:3,616 per day in 2031
Pass Year:Predicted
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Caption:Location of Alkimos station
Mapframe-Zoom:13

Alkimos railway station is a suburban rail station on the Yanchep line in Alkimos, Western Australia. The station opened on 14 July 2024 as part of the Yanchep Rail Extension.

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 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 consists of two side platforms sunk into a cutting. On top of the platforms is 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 is a bus interchange with eight stands on top of the railway, and further north, on either side of the railway are two car parks with 600 bays in total. Other facilities include parking for bicycles and toilets. The station is fully accessible.

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 Yanchep line, formerly known as 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 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. 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]

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. 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] The actual opening date was revealed in April 2024.[29] The station officially opened on 14 July 2024 with an opening ceremony and celebrations. Upon opening, the Joondalup line was renamed the Yanchep line. Regular train and bus services commenced the following day.[30] [31]

Services

Alkimos station is served by the Yanchep line on the Transperth network. Services are operated by the PTA.[32] The line goes between Yanchep and Elizabeth Quay station in the Perth central business district, continuing south from there as the Mandurah line.[33] Peak headways are five to ten minutes, dropping to fifteen minutes outside of peak and on weekends and public holidays. A train journey from Alkimos to Perth will take 41 minutes.[33] It is projected that Alkimos station will have 3,616 boardings per day by 2031.

There are four bus routes serving Alkimos station. Routes 485 and 486 run south to Butler station. Routes 491 and 492 run north to Eglinton station. These routes 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 has 30 minute headways on Saturdays.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alkimos Station Fact Sheet . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . August 2021.
  2. Web site: Transperth Zone Map . Transperth . 14 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Yanchep Rail Extension Project Definition Plan . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 2, 4 . June 2018.
  4. Web site: Emery . Kate . Alkimos train station works on Yanchep line signals start of Metronet . The West Australian . 7 January 2024 . 6 September 2018.
  5. Web site: Kagi . Jacob . Alkimos to become Perth's next northern suburbs hub as part of Metronet rail extension . ABC News . 7 January 2024 . 6 September 2018.
  6. Web site: Hastie . Hamish . Alkimos' future revealed . WAtoday . 7 January 2024 . 6 September 2018.
  7. Metronet . YouTube . METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension – Public Art Installation by Caroline Christie Coxon . 8 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Yanchep Rail Extension: Public Art . Metronet . 24 March 2024.
  9. Web site: Our history . Public Transport Authority . 14 May 2023 .
  10. Web site: Acott . Kent . Joondalup and Mandurah train lines celebrate significant anniversaries . The West Australian . 14 May 2023 . 18 December 2017 .
  11. Web site: Opening of Currambine railway station next month . Media Statements . 14 May 2023 . 17 July 1993 . 16 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160216235703/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1993/07/Opening-of-Currambine-railway-station-next-month.aspx . dead .
  12. Web site: Gallop Government delivers northern rail extension on time and budget . Media Statements . 14 May 2023 . 4 October 2004 . 1 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201093337/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Gallop/2004/10/Gallop-Government-delivers-northern-rail-extension-on-time-and-budget.aspx . dead .
  13. Web site: Butler train station and rail extension opens . ABC News . 14 May 2023 . 21 September 2014.
  14. Web site: Barnett opens rail extension as first train leaves Butler station . WAtoday . 14 May 2023 . 21 September 2014.
  15. Web site: WA Government signs contracts with NEWest Alliance . Railway Technology . 14 May 2023 . 17 December 2019.
  16. Web site: Major contract signed . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 18 December 2019.
  17. Web site: Eight months of milestones for Yanchep Rail Extension . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 17 December 2020.
  18. Web site: Jarvis . Lucy . Latest station designs revealed for Yanchep rail extension . PerthNow . Wanneroo Times . 14 May 2023 . 11 August 2020.
  19. Web site: Yanchep Rail Extension taking shape . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 21 May 2021.
  20. Web site: Shaping up at Alkimos Station . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 16 October 2022.
  21. Web site: One small step for Yanchep, one giant leap for Perth-kind! . Metronet . 16 May 2023 . 16 May 2023.
  22. Web site: Finishing touches for all stations . Metronet . 23 March 2024 . 18 March 2024.
  23. Web site: Project schedules adjusted to suit current economic conditions . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 9 September 2021.
  24. Web site: Clarke . Jenna . Metronet projects, including Thornlie-Cockburn link and Yanchep train line, will be delayed by 12-months . The West Australian . 14 May 2023 . 9 September 2021 . subscription.
  25. Web site: de Kruijff . Peter . State projects delayed to ease pressure on 'hot' WA construction market . WAtoday . 14 May 2023 . 9 September 2021.
  26. Web site: State Budget delivers continued METRONET investment . Metronet . 14 May 2023 . 11 May 2023.
  27. Web site: Dietsch . Jake . First test run for $1.8b Metronet Yanchep rail extension marks major milestone after years of delays . The West Australian . 22 December 2023 . 22 December 2023 . subscription.
  28. Web site: Joint media statement – First test train on track at Yanchep . Media Statements . 22 December 2023 . 22 December 2023.
  29. Web site: Dietsch . Jake . Metronet project: July opening date announced from Butler to Yanchep railway extension . The West Australian . 23 April 2024 . 23 April 2024 . subscription.
  30. Web site: Rintoul . Caitlyn . Yanchep rail extension officially opened after significant delays and cost blow outs . The West Australian . 14 July 2024 . 14 July 2024 . subscription.
  31. Web site: Joint media statement – METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension officially open . Media Statements . 14 July 2024 . 14 July 2024.
  32. Web site: Transperth . Public Transport Authority . 14 May 2023 .
  33. Web site: Yanchep Line Train Timetable . Transperth . 23 June 2024 . 15 July 2024.
  34. Web site: Alkimos and Eglinton Stations Supporting Bus Network . My Say Transport . 23 January 2024.