View source for AvonLink

{{Short description|Passenger train between Midland and Northam, Western Australia}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox rail service
|box_width       = 
|name            = ''AvonLink''
|logo            = 
|logo_width      = 
|image           = Avonlink Bellevue.jpg
|image_size      =
|caption         = [[Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class|AvonLink railcars]] going under the [[Great Eastern Highway]] bridge in [[Swan View, Western Australia|Swan View]] in October 2009
|type            = Passenger train
|status          = Operational
|locale          = [[Western Australia]]
|predecessor     = 
|first           = 24 September 1995
|last            = 
|successor       = 
|operator        = [[Transwa]]
|formeroperator  = [[Westrail]] (1995-2000)<br/>[[Western Australian Government Railways Commission|WAGR Commission]] (2000-2003)
|ridership       = 7,057 (year to June 2022)
|start           = [[Midland railway station, Perth|Midland]]
|stops           = 
|end             = [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]]
|distance        = 97 kilometres
|journeytime     = 1 hour 20 minutes
|frequency       = Daily (weekdays only)
|trainnumber     = 
|line_used       = [[Eastern Railway (Western Australia)|Eastern]]
|class           = 
|access          = 
|seating         = 
|catering        = 
|entertainment   = 
|baggage         = 
|otherfacilities = 
|stock           = [[Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class|WEA/WEB railcar]]
|gauge           = {{Track gauge|1435 mm|allk=on}}
|speed           = 
|owners          = 
|routenumber     = 
|map             = {{maplink
|frame=yes
|plain=yes
|frame-align=center
|frame-width=222
|frame-height=137
|zoom=7

|type=line
|stroke-colour=#DA291C
|stroke-width=4
|title=AvonLink
}}
}}

The '''''AvonLink''''' is a rural passenger train service in [[Western Australia]] operated by [[Transwa]] between [[Midland railway station, Perth|Midland]] and [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]].

==History==
The consideration of revitalising passenger services in 1993 saw the ''Avonlink Ministerial Committee'' formed by Minister for Transport [[Eric Charlton]].<ref>page 7{{cite book|last1=Whiteford|first1=David|title=A History of the AvonLink Train Service|date=2015|publisher=Shire of Toodyay|location=Toodyay, WA|isbn=9780646944258}}</ref>

The first ''AvonLink'' service departed [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] for [[East Perth railway station|East Perth]] on 24 September 1995, and was significant, as it was the first new country passenger rail service in [[Western Australia]] for 47 years.{{dubious|date=November 2018|Prospector was introduced in 1971, Albany Progress, Bunbury Belle, Midlander and Mullewa in the 1960s}}<ref>{{MayGray-WAGRPassCar |pages=341}}</ref><ref name=Transwa>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121015124819/http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=92 AvonLink and MerredinLink] Transwa</ref> From July 2001, the Perth terminus moved from East Perth to [[Midland railway station, Perth|Midland]] where a connection is made with [[Transperth]] [[Midland railway line, Perth|Midland line]] services.<ref>Here & There ''[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]'' issue 765 July 2001 page 272</ref>

In June 2004, the ''AvonLink'' was extended to [[Merredin railway station|Merredin]] on three days a week, operating as the ''[[MerredinLink]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171002104605/https://www.avonadvocate.com.au/story/4037666/easy-to-train-for-avon-descent/ Easy to train for Avon Descent] ''[[Avon Advocate]]'' 18 July 2016</ref> In September 2006, Transwa trialed a day trip Sunday service to [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]].<ref>[https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Carpenter/2006/09/Spring-into-the-Avon-Valley-by-rail.aspx Spring into the Avon Valley by rail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100132/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Carpenter/2006/09/Spring-into-the-Avon-Valley-by-rail.aspx |date=29 November 2018 }} Minister for Transport 4 September 2006</ref> The six-week trial proved popular with each service being fully booked out weeks in advance. However, due to overall lack of passengers at other times the service was discontinued.

In August 2013, Transwa announced the ''AvonLink'' would cease on 30 December 2013 due to poor patronage and be replaced by a road coach.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ducey|first=Liam|title=Transwa cancels AvonLink train service|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/transwa-cancels-avonlink-train-service-20130820-2s8h6.html|access-date=3 December 2013|newspaper=[[WA Today]]|date=20 August 2013|archive-date=7 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207014030/http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/transwa-cancels-avonlink-train-service-20130820-2s8h6.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this announcement generated significant criticism. On 19 November 2013, two [[Wheatbelt (Western Australia)|Wheatbelt region]] [[Legislative Assembly of Western Australia|MLA]]s, [[Mia Davies]] and [[Shane Love]], presented petitions to the [[Parliament of Western Australia|WA State Parliament]] calling for the retention of the AvonLink. The petitions bore a total of more than 3,000 signatures of Avon Valley residents.<ref>{{cite news|title=Keep AvonLink: residents petition Parliament|url=http://www.centraladvocate.com.au/story/1919295/keep-avonlink-residents-petition-parliament/|access-date=3 December 2013|newspaper=Central Midlands & Coastal Advocate|date=20 November 2013|archive-date=7 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207005503/http://www.centraladvocate.com.au/story/1919295/keep-avonlink-residents-petition-parliament/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Predovnik |first=Rashelle |title=Petitioning to keep the AvonLink |url=http://www.echonewspaper.com.au/newsDetail-cid-1037.htm |access-date=3 December 2013 |newspaper=[[Echo Newspapers|Echo News]] |date=21 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202102052/http://echonewspaper.com.au/newsDetail-cid-1037.htm |archive-date=2 December 2013 }}</ref><ref name=ABC3Dec13>{{cite news|last1=Strutt|first1=Jessica|last2=Bembridge|first2=Courtney|title=The State Government has backflipped on its decision to scrap the AvonLink train service|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/gov-backflips-on-avonlink-scrapping/5132638|access-date=3 December 2013|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|date=3 December 2013|archive-date=17 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517164102/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/gov-backflips-on-avonlink-scrapping/5132638|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 December 2013, Minister for Transport [[Troy Buswell]] announced the ''AvonLink'' service would be retained, initially for a period of six months, while Transwa and the [[Wheatbelt Development Commission]] worked through the funding solution required to keep the service running beyond that initial period.<ref name=ABC3Dec13/><ref>{{cite news|last=Robertson|first=Katie|title=AvonLink train service will stay open until mid-2014 after community outrage|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/avonlink-train-service-will-stay-open-until-mid2014-after-community-outrage/story-fnhocxo3-1226774524104|access-date=4 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)|Perth Now]]|date=3 December 2013|archive-date=5 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205001133/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/avonlink-train-service-will-stay-open-until-mid2014-after-community-outrage/story-fnhocxo3-1226774524104|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2014, it was announced that an enhanced service would continue until at least June 2017.<ref>[http://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/news/Details.aspx?NewsID=30 AvonLink Trial Receives Go Ahead] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520221318/http://www.toodyay.wa.gov.au/news/Details.aspx?NewsID=30 |date=20 May 2014 }} Shire of Toodyay 8 May 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Rail-link-back-on-track/7660210/ Rail link back on track] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220509/http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Rail-link-back-on-track/7660210/ |date=20 May 2014 }} ''Avon Valley Gazette'' 20 May 2014</ref>

In December 2014, an enhanced service was introduced with services increased from one to three trains on certain days.<ref>[https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2014/12/New-AvonLink-services-start-today.aspx New AvonLink services start today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129054436/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2014/12/New-AvonLink-services-start-today.aspx |date=29 November 2018 }} Minister for Transport 1 December 2014</ref> From July 2017, the ''AvonLink'' was reduced back to one service in each direction on weekdays only.<ref>[https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/06/AvonLink-train-service-to-be-saved.aspx AvonLink train service to be saved] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129054413/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/06/AvonLink-train-service-to-be-saved.aspx |date=29 November 2018 }} Minister for Transport 1 June 2017</ref>

==Services==
As at June 2022, one ''Avonlink'' service operates on weekdays in each direction between [[Midland railway station, Perth|Midland]] and [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] stopping at [[Toodyay railway station|Toodyay]].<ref>[https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/tickets-times/train-timetables] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615081400/https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/tickets-times/train-timetables |date=15 June 2022 }} Transwa 17 June 2022</ref>

==Rolling stock==
The service commenced with [[WAGR WCA/WCE class|WCA/WCE railcars]] built in 1971 to operate ''[[The Prospector (train)|The Prospector]]''.<ref>"Westrail Commences Avonlink Service" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' December 1995 page 22</ref><ref>"Future prospects for the Prospector" ''Railway Digest'' October 1997 pages 18-19</ref>

In December 2000 [[Westrail]] awarded a contract to [[UGL Rail|United Goninan]], [[Broadmeadow, New South Wales|Broadmeadow]] for 9 [[Transwa WDA/WDB/WDC class|WDA/WDB/WDC railcars]] to replace the 1971 built stock. 3 WDA/WDB and 1 WDC were for ''[[The Prospector (train service)|The Prospector]]'' and 2 WEA/WEB were for the ''AvonLink'' and ''[[MerredinLink]]'' services.<ref>[https://archive.today/20140507104606/http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/pages/StatementDetails.aspx?listName=StatementsCourt&StatId=2983 New 'world-class' Goldfields and Avon trains move closer] Government of Western Australia 7 December 2000</ref><ref>"WA Short Lines" ''Railway Digest'' February 2001</ref> The new train entered service on 1 August 2005.<ref name=Transwa/>

==Ridership==
The ''AvonLink'' had 7,057 passengers in the year leading up to June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Transport Authority Annual Report 2021-22 |url=https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/15/annualreports/2022/PTA%20Annual%20Report%202021-22%20Digital%20Version.pdf |website=Public Transport Authority |access-date=8 January 2023 |page=21 |date=2022 |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218182424/https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/15/annualreports/2022/PTA%20Annual%20Report%202021-22%20Digital%20Version.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Australind (train service)|''Australind'' (train service)]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Transwa Avonlink}}

{{Public Transport Authority of Western Australia railway stations|AvonLink=y}}

[[Category:Named passenger trains of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1995]]
[[Category:Wheatbelt (Western Australia)]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Australia]]