| The Prospector | |
| Type: | Passenger train |
| Status: | Operational |
| Locale: | Western Australia |
| Predecessor: | The Kalgoorlie |
| First: | 29 November 1971 |
| Operator: | Transwa |
| Ridership: | 68,497 (year to June 2022) |
| End: | Kalgoorlie |
| Distance: | 653km (406miles) |
| Journeytime: | 6 hours 45 minutes |
| Frequency: | 9 trips in each direction per week |
| Stock: | WDA/WDB/WDC railcars |
The Prospector is a rural passenger train service in Western Australia operated by Transwa between East Perth and Kalgoorlie. On this service, two trains depart almost at the same time in opposite directions, one travelling between East Perth and Kalgoorlie, and the other between Kalgoorlie and East Perth. The original vehicles ordered in 1968 for trains providing this service were replaced in 2004 with vehicles capable of reducing journey times to 6 hours 45 minutes.
With the standard gauge line from Perth to Kalgoorlie due to open in mid-1969, the Western Australian Government Railways decided to replace The Kalgoorlie overnight sleeper service with a daylight service. The new service commenced on 29 November 1971, cutting the 653km (406miles) journey time from fourteen to eight hours. With an average speed of, it was the fastest service in Australia.[1] [2]
There is one train each way daily between East Perth and Kalgoorlie. On Mondays and Fridays, there are two services each way.[3]
Each seat on board is in the same class. At every seat there is a touchscreen entertainment system with a small selection of movies, TV shows and music. They also offer a tray table, in-seat power (Australian type only), and a foot rest.
Food is not complimentary on board and can be bought at the buffet. The buffet offers a variety of items such as ham and cheese croissants, pies, muffins, soft drinks, potato chips, lollies and alcohol.[4]
In 2022, Wi-Fi internet access was introduced to the service.[5]
In 1968, Comeng, Granville were awarded a contract to build eight WAGR WCA/WCE class railcars.[2] [6]
Built to take advantage of the generous loading gauge on the new line, they were the largest carriages ever built in Australia. They were the first trains in Australia to have at-seat catering.[2] These held the record for the highest speed attained by an Australian train until bettered by a New South Wales XPT in September 1981.[7]
In December 2000, Westrail awarded a contract to United Goninan, Broadmeadow for seven Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class railcars to replace the original railcars.[8] [9]
The first entered service on 28 June 2004.[10] The new railcars are capable of 2000NaN0, but track conditions restrict their top speed to 1600NaN0.[11] Nonetheless, they further reduced journey times to 6 hours 45 minutes.
The Prospector had 68,497 passengers in the year leading up to June 2022.[12]