AvonLink

---

title: "AvonLink" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["named-passenger-trains-of-western-australia", "railway-services-introduced-in-1995", "wheatbelt-(western-australia)", "1995-establishments-in-australia"] description: "Passenger train between Midland and Northam, Western Australia" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AvonLink" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Passenger train between Midland and Northam, Western Australia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]

Field	Value
name	AvonLink
image	Avonlink Bellevue.jpg
caption	AvonLink railcars going under the Great Eastern Highway bridge in Swan View in October 2009
type	Passenger train
status	Operational
locale	Western Australia
first	24 September 1995
operator	Transwa
formeroperator	Westrail (1995-2000)
WAGR Commission (2000-2003)
ridership	7,057 (year to June 2022)
start	Midland
end	Northam
distance	97 kilometres
journeytime	1 hour 20 minutes
frequency	Daily (weekdays only)
line_used	Eastern
stock	WEA/WEB railcar
gauge
map
::

|box_width = |name = AvonLink |logo = |logo_width = |image = Avonlink Bellevue.jpg |image_size = |caption = AvonLink railcars going under the Great Eastern Highway bridge in 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) WAGR Commission (2000-2003) |ridership = 7,057 (year to June 2022) |start = Midland |stops = |end = Northam |distance = 97 kilometres |journeytime = 1 hour 20 minutes |frequency = Daily (weekdays only) |trainnumber = |line_used = Eastern |class = |access = |seating = |catering = |entertainment = |baggage = |otherfacilities = |stock = WEA/WEB railcar |gauge = |speed = |owners = |routenumber = |map =

The AvonLink is a rural passenger train service in Western Australia operated by Transwa between Midland and Northam.

History

The consideration of revitalising passenger services in 1993 saw the Avonlink Ministerial Committee formed by Minister for Transport Eric Charlton.

The first AvonLink service departed Northam for 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. From July 2001, the Perth terminus moved from East Perth to Midland where a connection is made with Transperth Midland line services.

In June 2004, the AvonLink was extended to Merredin on three days a week, operating as the MerredinLink. In September 2006, Transwa trialed a day trip Sunday service to Northam. 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. However, this announcement generated significant criticism. On 19 November 2013, two Wheatbelt region MLAs, Mia Davies and Shane Love, presented petitions to the 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.

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.

In May 2014, it was announced that an enhanced service would continue until at least June 2017.

In December 2014, an enhanced service was introduced with services increased from one to three trains on certain days. From July 2017, the AvonLink was reduced back to one service in each direction on weekdays only.

Services

As at June 2022, one Avonlink service operates on weekdays in each direction between Midland and Northam stopping at Toodyay.

Rolling stock

The service commenced with WCA/WCE railcars built in 1971 to operate The Prospector.

In December 2000 Westrail awarded a contract to United Goninan, Broadmeadow for 9 WDA/WDB/WDC railcars to replace the 1971 built stock. 3 WDA/WDB and 1 WDC were for The Prospector and 2 WEA/WEB were for the AvonLink and MerredinLink services. The new train entered service on 1 August 2005.

Ridership

The AvonLink had 7,057 passengers in the year leading up to June 2022.

References

Notes

References

1. (2015). "A History of the AvonLink Train Service". Shire of Toodyay.
2. {{MayGray-WAGRPassCar
3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121015124819/http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=92 AvonLink and MerredinLink] Transwa
4. Here & There ''[[Australian Railway History. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]'' issue 765 July 2001 page 272
5. [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
6. [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. link. (29 November 2018 Minister for Transport 4 September 2006)
7. Ducey, Liam. (20 August 2013). "Transwa cancels AvonLink train service". [[WA Today]].
8. (20 November 2013). "Keep AvonLink: residents petition Parliament". Central Midlands & Coastal Advocate.
9. Predovnik, Rashelle. (21 November 2013). "Petitioning to keep the AvonLink". [[Echo Newspapers.
10. (3 December 2013). "The State Government has backflipped on its decision to scrap the AvonLink train service". [[ABC News (Australia).
11. Robertson, Katie. (3 December 2013). "AvonLink train service will stay open until mid-2014 after community outrage". [[The Sunday Times (Western Australia).
12. link. (20 May 2014 Shire of Toodyay 8 May 2014)
13. [http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Rail-link-back-on-track/7660210/ Rail link back on track] {{webarchive. link. (20 May 2014 ''Avon Valley Gazette'' 20 May 2014)
14. [https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2014/12/New-AvonLink-services-start-today.aspx New AvonLink services start today] {{Webarchive. link. (29 November 2018 Minister for Transport 1 December 2014)
15. [https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2017/06/AvonLink-train-service-to-be-saved.aspx AvonLink train service to be saved] {{Webarchive. link. (29 November 2018 Minister for Transport 1 June 2017)
16. [https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/tickets-times/train-timetables] {{Webarchive. link. (15 June 2022 Transwa 17 June 2022)
17. "Westrail Commences Avonlink Service" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' December 1995 page 22
18. "Future prospects for the Prospector" ''Railway Digest'' October 1997 pages 18-19
19. [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
20. "WA Short Lines" ''Railway Digest'' February 2001
21. (2022). "Public Transport Authority Annual Report 2021-22".

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