Cockburn Central Train Station is a two-platform train station in Jandakot served by the Mandurah Train Line. The station is sandwiched between the Kwinana Freeway on the left side, and the Success Park 'n' Ride bus Station on the right side.
The Station is well designed and organized, practical, clean, and comfortable for commuters: There is a spacious seating area on the ground and a lift and an escalator to access the exit on the upper floor. You can use your legs, if you want, because there is a normal staircase, as well.
The Cockburn Train Station has almost anything that you would like to have or you might need to use in a small train station: electronic information panels, written timetable, written info about ticket prices, multi-rider recharge machines, ticket machines, money exchange machine (one of those to you put a banknote and you get that amount in coins), a public telephone (yes, they still exist!), and, at the end of the covered passage, there is an EFPTOS machine and a coffee machine, as well as the public toilets. There is a security booth on the upper floor (hurrah!) and another one, on the ground level.
The covered passage on the right side, while exiting, leads to the Bus Station's two platforms, as well as to a small shopping area across the road. The Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre is a few hundred metres further down; you can take bus 527, which takes you right there.
The toilets are the only downside of the place - small, ugly-looking, run down and kept just OK. They need an overhaul.
The Buses connect the station with Hammond Park, Murdoch Station, Fremantle Station, and other areas in the Success-Jandakot area.
MIND - Cockburn, is pronounced "Cohbarn".
Phillmore St
Fremantle Western Australia 6160
Fremantle Train Station is an iconic Fremantle landmark, Heritage listed since 2001. The Station has an air of grandeur, with an impressive and charming stone Federation Classical façade, whose elegance and magnificence gets somewhat magnified by its less impressive surroundings. In a way, it feels a bit too grand for a bohemian little town like Fremantle. However, once you enter in, the Station reflects well the laid-back style of the town.
The Station is clean, well organised and fuss free. Only the Fremantle Train Line operates in this station and, although the trains arrive and leave frequently, there is never a huge traffic or big human agglomerations except for peak hours some days. The Station reminds me of those little old train stations you find in some small European villages and towns; if they hanged a few flower plants from the beams, the space-travel-machine feeling would be magnified.
Part of the original
grandeur of the Station can still be appreciated, if you happen to be a lady, at the
surprisingly magnificent eerie toilets. They seem designed for
giants or, most probably, for ladies wearing long dresses with cancans,
awesome feather hats and delicate parasols, who needed to
get from "Lady" to human being in need of physical relief, and lots of space for the gruelling and almost Kafkaesque transformation. They probably have huge bottoms, too. If you happen to have one, congratulations!, this is your place. The chilliness of
the place, the large empty space, the high dark-wood doors and the ultra-white walls create a
ghostly atmosphere that you do not want to miss.
Although the seating area is large and quite comfortable, and the station has electronic info pannels regarding trains departures, the station lacks some facilities that, due to he ample room available, one wonders why are not there. A cosy elegant French-style café could be perfect here, a small newsagent, a colourful flowers stand, and the now absent Info booth. That is my vision. The vision of TransPerth is a bit more Spartan, and at present there is just a little convenience store, and a Security booth, plus the ticket machines, which, of course, have a charm of their own. The security guards at the station are very friendly and helpful if you happen to request their help.
Fremantle Train Station makes you at ease as soon as you enter in. Things change after the lights of the day fade off, but, even then, the Station lives up to its Jekyll & Hyde soul.
The Showgrounds Railway station is one of the stops in the Fremantle Railway Line, and very close to the Claremont Showgrounds, where the Royal Perth Show, business fairs, expos, exhibitions and craft and vintage markets take place. Do not to be mixed with Claremont Railway Station, which is a different one.
The place looks as new and it is well maintained, spotless clean and tidy, has a decent seating area, and a few ticketing machines on the ground. The access to the platforms is by underground stairs, no lift or escalator available, but there is an access ramp for wheelchairs.
The Claremont
showgrounds and the station do no have a regular connection system, but a
free shuttle operates during scheduled events, which is great, as the
station and the grounds are close, but not that close!
There is no electronic or printing information system on the premises showing the timetable of the trains, and time remaining for the next train to arrive. There is a small information booth on the ground, but, if there is nobody there, an alternative information system is needed. I have just seen it closed, so it was of no use to the many customers arriving with the shuttle to the station. How difficult and expensive can be having a framed timetable placed in different areas of the station for the travellers to check?
There is a security booth on the platforms, but no body guard was there in the late afternoon of a Saturday. I hope the security camera is working and big brother is watching, especially after sunset.
There are no toilets in the premises or around them.
TIP
There are not machines to recharge your multirider, so do so before heading that alley.
Subiaco Square Road
13 62 13
Transperth
Buzzing with activity any time of the day, any day of the week, the Subiaco railway station is the only train station in Subiaco, and part of the Fremantle Railway Line.
THE GOOD
- Subiaco Train Station is very clean and functional, quite open and luminous but still protected by a contemporary cool metallic structure and good lightning in the evening.
- There are just two platforms, so it is easy to move around, and they have a simple and effective electronic information system.
- Moreover, the station is in the heart of the shopping and restaurant and café area, with several cafés, restaurants and a shopping centre at barely ten metres from the station. The vibrant Subiaco Street Markets, trendy Rockeby Road and the gorgeous St Joseph's Catholic Church are also a a few minutes walking distance from it.
THE DOWNS
- The multirider tagging machines are located outside, on the ground concourse level over the platforms not in the platforms. This is annoying at peak times, especially if you are tagging on and want to catch a train leaving in a few minutes but find a flood of people tagging off or on in front of you upstairs.
- The number of seating benches is limited. There is room for more.
- There are no public or pay toilets in the station. There is a close unisex public booth toilet very close at the corner between Subiaco Square Road and Brigid Road, but it is not good enough.
- There is no information booth in the premises, just a board with maps and info.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
- A toilet booth is needed. If people have an emergency, they could not get to the close-by public booth.
- There is space for at least for two more benches on each platform.
- More tagging machines needed, at least one on each platform. So the tagging is more fluid and faster at peak times.
- We like it tidy and clean, but also beautiful. Why not using the large grey ugly walls in the platform area as a canvas and have a mural painted on them?
Corner William St & Murray St Mall
13 62 13
(08) 9428 1900
Tranperth Info
This much needed station opened its doors in 2007 at the corner between William St and the Murray St Mall, coinciding with the opening of the new Mandurah train line. It is a stop for the Mandurah, Joondalup and Clarkson's train lines.
THE GOOD
- It is in the heart of Perth CBD, easy to access for regular an disable commuters or mums with proms.
- The place is squeaky clean and shiny, and very pleasant.
- The colour-coded flat signing is very easy to follow. You will hardly get lost here, not even if you venture and walk the pedestrian underground passage connecting this station to Perth Central.
- They have a very efficient information system. There is a Transperth information kiosk, stands with timetable brochures, electronic boards at the entrance and all over the place (with info about minutes left for the next train to depart, platform number, and number of cars) plus voice over messages informing of the arrival and departure of the trains, and giving security messages.
THE NOT SO GOOD
Despite everything, the station is not as customer friendly as it should be, especially taking into consideration that it is five years old.
* The seating area and number of benches is ridiculously small.
* Perth Underground does not have public toilets in the premises, not even a paid rest place. Shocking!
* The first thing you notice before you get to the platforms is the largeness of the corridors. Even if the train is full at peak hours. It is great having lots of room to move around without having other passengers rubbing your shoulders. Still, the space is large enough to be used to provide commuters some services.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
- Public Toilets needed right there right now.
- A Rest Room rea is needed.
- More seating benches are needed at the platforms and in the corridors. There is room for them!
- A newsagent kiosk and takeaway coffee/food kiosks could easily fit in the corridors and pedestrian walking area, as well as any sort of Japanese Style vending machine. It would be a good source of revenue for Transperth, and beneficial for businesses and commuters.
- Make the Transperth info office more eye-pleasing. At present, it looks like those found in stations built 20 years ago - Ugly and unfriendly. Are we in 2012 yet?
Please, Transperth Masterminds, think about us beyond we getting onto the trains.
MIND
For non-regular users of Transperth, Perth underground is not Perth Station or Perth Central, which always refers to the Central Station located between Wellington and Roe Streets and facing Forrest Place.
ALSO MIND
Although the electronic boards show info about the Fremantle and Midland lines, you have to go to the Perth Central to catch those. If you enter Perth Underground, you have about 300 metres of pedestrian underground walk to get there. I always find more pleasant walking the city, and it takes you the same time. Unless you are changing trains of course.
378 Wellington St
Perth Western Australia 6000
http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/
Perth Train Station is the heart of the city, literally, the way to connect with people, to wait for people, to buy your newspaper, to have a coffee, to go to the a doctor, and, I forgot!, to catch a train.
There is something special about this station, truly. It is the mix of old and new, the easiness and functionality of the design, the cosiness of the atmosphere, and the good vibe of the space in general. This was one of the first things that caught my attention when I moved to Perth, as most train stations elsewhere are too crowded, too complicated, too ugly, too smelly, to big, too noisy, too "trainy", if you know what I mean. The place is very safe all day around, even at night, a thing you can't say of other train stations in Perth.
The fact that there are a few coffee shops, a newsagent, doctor and physiotherapy practices, a dental practice, a hairdresser, and a few other business and resting places around, makes the place a lively spot, accentuated by the fact that the train station upper level is a pass way between the Cultural Centre and the Shopping area in the CBD.
The trains depart on time almost every time, and the service is terrific even on Sundays. If there are delays or disruptions, you are properly informed and guided to replacement buses.
The are a few ticket machines for individual tickets in front of the entrance area, but better use a multi-rider if you are going to be in Perth for a few days (if you are a visitor), which you can purchase and recharge at the newsagent on the same floor. Do buy your ticket because the security guards at the entrance and exit will stop you, and, if you don't have one, they won't have any pity, no matter you had it and lost it.
The only down in the Station is the size of the information office, which needs to be enlarged, as it is always crowded, especially now that the TransWA office has closed its door and the Transperth information office has taken over the booking and sale of those tickets.
The place is being refurbished at the moment, and it wont be long that we have a completely different space, unfortunately.
