Westrail - Armadale line suburban track alterations

["Chris French" <cfrench@starwon.com>]

In case anyone is interested:

Westrail is making significant changes to the double line track layout at
Belmont Park (formally Goodwood). For those who know, Belmont Park is a
'Special Events' stopping place only now, and services the Belmont Park
(horse) Racetrack.

The development of the Polly Farmer Freeway (PFF), which incorporates the
controvertial Northbridge 'tunnel' between Fitzgerald Street (Northbridge)
and Newcastle Street (East Perth), has resulted in the construction of a
complex road interchange at East Perth which will see the Eastern line
(Perth to Midland) be 'tunnelled' under the PFF.

True to form for W.A. transport gurus, there is a new road bridge being
constructed right next to the graceful, double track replacement of the old
"Bunbury Bridge". Why is it the W.A. road engineers have to parallel the
railways?

At Belmont Park there is an aweful lot of bridges and overpasses being
constructed. The present railway alignment occupies the land which will be
soon occupied by the PFF so a new double track alignment has been laid and
now fully ballasted. Signalling works and overhead electrics have been
installed, but no connection, either track or overhead, has been made yet.
The project seems to be awaiting the completion of the new Belmont Park
station (although I could be wrong on this as the race meetings have
shifted to Ascot for the summer). The new Belmont Park station is about 250
metres further away from the racetrack, towards the Burswood golf course,
and the construction of a long pedestrian ramp from the platform up and
over the overhead electrics is under way. Yet more bridges to add to the
vista!

Recently, I went to the old Belmont Park station and took 24 photos of the
old platform and alignment for future reference. The platform still shows
evidence of the old Goodwood signal cabin's location, but as the landscape
will dramatically change soon, these are already historical snaps. I
suggest if there is anyone on this list who is interested in doing the same
- act soon, for the connecting up of the new alignment, and the removal of
the old, will not be that far away.

Similarly, changes are also taking place at Subiaco (for the sinking of the
Subiaco station on the Eastern line), and on the new Northern Suburbs line
(as part of the new PFF) near the Roe Street railway underpass (I refuse to
call it a tunnel). 

Get out there guys, and get snapping - it's all changing very fast..!

Chris. French
Co-ordinator, Claremont Signal Cabin Group

Please visit the Claremont Signal Cabin. Click on the link below for
details: http://trainweb.com/signalbox/branches/cf/claremont.htm