Train services on a major Perth line have finally resumed after a dramatic afternoon crash involving a truck and a car forced the shutdown of both rail services and a section of a key freeway.
Chaos on the Kwinana Freeway
The serious incident occurred just before 1:00 PM on Thursday in the southbound lanes of the Kwinana Freeway near Cockburn station in Cockburn Central. A collision between a truck and a car left the vehicle a crumpled wreck, with debris scattered across multiple traffic lanes.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, and a woman involved in the crash was transported to hospital. Authorities reported she was in a stable condition. The truck also sustained significant damage in the impact.
Rail Infrastructure Damaged, Services Halted
The force of the crash had severe knock-on effects, causing rail infrastructure to fall across the train tracks below. This critical damage forced the immediate suspension of all Transperth train services on the Mandurah Line.
With thousands of music fans preparing to travel to the AC/DC concert at Optus Stadium that evening, the disruption caused major headaches for commuters and concertgoers alike. Transperth swiftly organised replacement bus services to ferry stranded passengers along the affected route.
Services Resume After Hours of Disruption
After hours of repair work and cleanup, Transperth announced that train services on the Mandurah Line resumed running between Elizabeth Quay and Rockingham just before 6:00 PM. However, the transport authority warned passengers that services were not immediately returning to the regular timetable and advised allowing extra travel time.
Crews worked throughout the afternoon to clear the wreckage and repair the damaged rail infrastructure. The affected section of the Kwinana Freeway was also eventually reopened to all traffic, restoring the vital road link.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how a single traffic accident can create widespread disruption across Perth's integrated transport network, affecting both road and rail users for an extended period.
