1979–1983 Fremantle railway line closure

The railway passenger service between Perth and Fremantle was closed from 2 September 1979 to 29 July 1983 by the Charles Court government of Western Australia.

[8] As the rolling stock neared the end of its lifespan, the government of the day was required to consider either a substantial capital works program, or the cessation of passenger services entirely.

John Knox, appointed to the Department of Transport in the early 1970s was a key player in the process of consolidating and closing rail services.

Following an overseas investigation, George Shea, head of the Metropolitan Transport Trust reach the view that electrification of the railway was unviable in a City of less than 3 million residents and recommended as such to the government.

The government pointed to declining passenger numbers and an increase in the annual cost of providing rail services in comparison to buses.

[13] Under pressure from the community and local governments (including Fremantle and Subiaco) the Minister for Transport announced he would review the submission and present it before cabinet.

On 17 August, it was alleged that the Government disrupted a public Friends of the Railway meeting at the Cottesloe Civic Centre by bussing in Liberal party members to stifle debate.

Despite widespread cross-political dissatisfaction with the railway closure the government justified the policy as part of an overall investment in public transport and promised that it would be subject to review with three years.

The continuation of freight services ensured that the railway line remained operational and so, in spite of a clear swing to Labor, the government won the 1980 election.

[18] With the government taking a firm position on the railway closure the Opposition under Brian Burke promised to reopen the line if Labor won the election.

At this point the infrastructure and rolling stock was in such a poor state that the government was compelled to investigate the immediate electrification of the entire line, a program that commenced in 1986 and concluded in 1991.