Eastern Railway (Western Australia) - Third Route - Avon Valley

Avon Valley

In the 1940s, it became clear to the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) that the original Eastern Railway alignments were not suitable for future traffic and the loadings that were to be carried between the coast and the areas east of the Darling Scarp.

It was not until the 1960s that a new eastern railway route was commissioned to run through the Avon Valley, further north than existing Eastern Railway alignments. The Third route was originally built with timber sleepers and 94lb rail. It was later upgraded using heavy (60kg) continuously welded rail laid on new concrete sleepers during the late 1970s through into the early 1980s. It features much milder grades and is designed for faster train speeds.

It is a dual gauge standard gauge and 3' 6" narrow gauge) double line throughout its entirety, also including a few crossing loop sections, where there are 3 tracks. These loops are located at Jumperkine, Moondyne and Toodyay West. Numerous cuttings were also constructed, including the deep Windmill Hill Cutting east of Toodyay.

This new route was opened on 13 February 1966 and coincided with the closure of the earlier two routes of the Eastern Railway. The line is still operational and is used by all rail freight to the east as well as the Transwa Prospector and Transwa Avonlink running frequently on the route.