❓ Hon Steve Martin questions the removal of express services on the Armadale/Thornlie train line following timetable changes, seeking clarification on the reasons and impact on travel times. The PTA's response highlights a focus on customer-centric, integrated, and efficient services, citing increased patronage and limited benefits of express services.
AnsweredQoN 667Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Armadale / Thornlie Line Train Timetable effective 10 October 2022, and the Armadale Line Train Timetable effective 13 October 2025, and I note that the earlier timetable contains a range of express options between Perth and Armadale, while the latter does not appear to contain any express routes at all, and I ask: (a) is it accurate that the new Armadale line now contains no express routes at all; (b) if yes to (a), why was this decision taken? Is it due to capacity of the line, or some other consideration; (c) if no to (a), are these represented on the current timetable; (d) as of 10 October 2022 (the date of the earlier mentioned timetable), what was the expected average weekday travel time taken to travel from Perth to Armadale for: (i) routes that stop at all stations; and (ii) routes that do not stop at all stations (express); (e) as of 13 October 2025 (the date of the latter timetable), what is the expected average weekday travel time taken to travel from Perth to Armadale for: (i) routes that stop at all stations; and (ii) routes that do not stop at all stations (express - if applicable); (f) in relation to (d) and (e), please provide also the figures for Armadale to Perth, if these are different to the results in (d) and (e); and (g) in relation to answers to (d) and (e), should there be a variation in expected travel time between Perth and Armadale, please explain the causes for this?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
9 days
(a)-(g) The PTA is committed to providing train services which are customer-focussed, integrated and efficient.
Significant investment has been made by the government along the inner Armadale line, and it is anticipated that this investment will draw in higher levels of patronage which needs to be supported through additional train service frequency.
The PTA’s analysis of the effectiveness of express services across all lines has shown that they have limited benefits in that they often catch up to the service in front of them (particularly during peak periods) and they do place additional pressure on those train services which stop at all stations thereby compounding this issue.
Significant investment has been made by the government along the inner Armadale line, and it is anticipated that this investment will draw in higher levels of patronage which needs to be supported through additional train service frequency.
The PTA’s analysis of the effectiveness of express services across all lines has shown that they have limited benefits in that they often catch up to the service in front of them (particularly during peak periods) and they do place additional pressure on those train services which stop at all stations thereby compounding this issue.
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