Fremantle Railway Line (Perth WA)

Perth City Train Station to Fremantle Train Station
Perth Western Australia 6000
13 62 13
TransPerth Website 

The Fremantle Railway Line was the first train line opened in Perth, in 1881, during  the charming Colonial era, when trains and steam machines had the wow factor. Fremantle Train Line is still a charming line, whether you need to use it, want to get lost, or you are a tourist. 

The train departs from Perth and passes trough City West, West Leederville, Subiaco, Daglish, Shenton Park, Karrakatta, Loch Street, Showgrounds, Claremont, Swanbourne, Grant Street,  and North Fremantle before arriving at Fremantle. The whole ride takes about half an hour. 

This is my favourite train line, and one of those lines that I enjoy riding for the sake of riding it, disregarding I need to go somewhere, or just want to venture somewhere out of the blue. There are many charming places you might decide to stop at to have a meal, a coffee, a drink, go to traditional markets, visit an exhibition or fair, or just to take a stroll. My favourite stops are Subiaco, Swanbourne, Cottesloe and Fremantle. 

One of the things I like the most about this line is the fact that it traverses very different urban areas: from the dry City of Perth to the coastal towns of Cottlesloe and Fremantle; from the urban to the suburban, from the middle and middle-upper class areas to the bohemian areas. No surprise, this line also has a mixed colourful group of riders: locals, tourists, beach lovers, market lovers, students, business people, families with kids, intellectuals, Footy fans, loonies, loners, you name it. An archetypal collection of human beings. You will not need a book or a phone to pass the time. Just open your eyes and enjoy the ride.

Fremantle is within TransPerth Zone 2. Fees from Perth to Fremantle or vice versa (effective 1/7/2013), are 50 cents for students, 4.20 cash (or 1.70 concession), 3.47-3.15 for multi-rider users (1.45-1.28 concession).

The Fremantle Train Line's timetable is very good, the service very frequent all day long and great part of the night. Some of the trains stop at all stations, and others just at selected ones. 

MIND
Two main shuts will affect this line in the coming days. Alternative transportation will be provided. Afterwards, there were be changes in the trains timetables.
Shut 1: Friday 12 July- Wednesday 17 July 2013.
Shut 2: Wednesday 31 July-Sunday 4 August 2013

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Mandurah Train Line (Perth WA)

Perth City Train station to Mandurah train station
Perth Western Australia 6000
Transperth
Timetable
 
The best train line in Perth, by miles. It is reliable, it is cheap, it is beautiful, and takes you from Perth to Mandurah in about one hour. The Mandurah Line departs from William St Underground Station (corner with Murray St) and stops at Esplanade, Canning Bridge, Bull Creek, Murdoch (connections to Murdoch Uni available), Cokburn Central, Kwinana, Wellard, Rockingham, Wambro and Mandurah.

The ride is really pleasant and comfortable, especially beautiful during the day, as you have picturesque views of the Swam River, the hills, lovely green and marine areas, with a comprehensive view of Perth south western suburbs. One of those lines I would recommend tourists and backpackers to take and get a glimpse of what Perth is beyond Perth CBD and Fremantle.  Moreover, you can spend half a day at Mandurah and check the little posh mini-riviera, have a drink or a meal there and return the same way.


They have the best possible timetable, with trains leaving Perth or Mandurah every ten minutes even on Sundays. It might sound normal to some foreigners, but for us is like wow, as most bus lines are unreliable on weekends.  

Perth Transport System works by zones, the pricing increasing by distance. If you want to go all the way to Mandurah, you pay for a zone-7 ticket. Under the new pricing (effective 1st July 2012), you are looking at 7-9.40$ no concession (cash or multi-rider) or 2.85-3.23$ for concession card holders (ditto). Full-day tickets and family riders cost 11$, and students pay the usual trifle of 50 cents.

 Why would anybody want to drive across the city and go through the always painful Kwinana Highway when you have a reliable, fast, clean cheap public transport?  Why not taking a half day break to Mandurah to check up one of Perth satellite towns?

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