No Freo train over Easter has Mayor hopping mad (WA)

FREMANTLE Mayor Peter Tagliaferri has hit out at Transperth for its complete lack of notification and coordination with the City of Fremantle over the closure of the Fremantle rail line over the Easter period. He believes many people will be caught short as they head to the port city for the 10th annual Fremantle Street Arts Festival this weekend or head up to Subiaco Oval for the AFL match on Saturday. “The City of Fremantle only received notification late Friday and I note newspaper advertising only starting today in local papers,” Mr Tagliaferri said. “But something like the Fremantle Street Arts Festival is planned months in advance and everyone knows it’s always on the Easter long weekend. “Transperth should have checked in with us to see if any major events were happening before they decided to shut off the line from Daglish to Fremantle. “The Street Arts Festival has been widely promoted over the past two months and it’s a regular annual event so there’s no excuse for this lack of communication. “While I have spoken to the Public Transport Authority today and have received an apology, it’s too little, too late. “At this point, we can only urge people to find alternative methods of coming to Fremantle over the Easter period and apologise for the situation with the trains – but it’s something completely out of our control.” The original Transperth notification follows: ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 2:55 PM Subject: TRANSPERTH NOTICE - SERVICE DISRUPTIONS: Fremantle Line train services 20 to 26 March 2008 SERVICE DISRUPTIONS: Fremantle Line train services 20 to 26 March 2008 Transperth train services between Daglish and Fremantle will be cancelled from the evening of Thursday 20 March until Wednesday 26 March 2008 due to infrastructure works. The last trains to run from Perth to Fremantle on Thursday evening will be: • to Fremantle departing Perth at 7.00pm • to Perth departing Fremantle at 7.31pm and will resume with the start of services Wednesday 26 March 2008 Train replacement bus service 906 will pick up commuters between Daglish and Fremantle at the train replacement stops near train stations while services are cancelled. Normal train services will run between Perth and Daglish. Passengers should allow extra travelling time and be aware that train replacement buses may not connect with normal bus and train services. Surfboards and bicycles are not permitted on Transperth buses. Saturday 22 March: Train Replacement Services for West Coast Eagles v Brisbane Lions. On Saturday 22 March, additional train replacement services will be provided for the West Coast Eagles v Brisbane Lions match at Subiaco Oval. These services will begin two hours before bouncedown, from 3.40pm, and run via the normal train replacement route from Fremantle to Daglish then run via Railway Rd, Roberts Rd to set down outside Subiaco Oval. The return trips will operate from the train replacement stop outside West Leederville Station and run express to Daglish Station and the via normal train replacement route to Fremantle Station. Last buses depart 30 minutes after the match. Football patrons please note that there will not be any additional train replacement buses provided at Subiaco Station and they must use the train replacement stop at West Leederville Station. For further information, use the Transperth JourneyPlanner at www.transperth.wa.gov.au to plan your journey or call the Transperth InfoLine on 13 62 13 (TTY: 9428 1999, TIS: 13 14 50).