A train derailment at Bayswater Station on Monday afternoon caused severe delays across multiple Perth train lines during peak hour. The incident occurred around 3:30pm when a passenger carriage slipped off the tracks, leading to the closure of the Ellenbrook, Midland, and airport lines, as well as disruptions on the Fremantle line.
The Public Transport Authority (PTA) confirmed that two wheel undercarriages from a railcar partially came off the tracks after departing at low speed from Bayswater Station. All passengers were safely evacuated, and an investigation was launched.
PTA operations manager Murray Rowe said the investigation pointed to human error. 'It appears the driver didn't hear the signal,' he told ABC Radio Perth. 'Our system did operate as designed. Unfortunately, at this particular point in time, the train traversed a set of points, and the points were turning at that same time, which led to the train derailing.'
Mr Rowe noted only 'very minor' damage to the track and said passengers likely did not notice the derailment. He reaffirmed the safety of the network, stating that such incidents are rare. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti described it as a regrettable incident and confirmed discussions with the train driver would follow.
Replacement buses were organized for affected passengers on Monday. All train lines had reopened by Tuesday morning, though delays persisted on the Mandurah and Ellenbrook lines due to a technical issue.
