Increased frequency of Prospector Perth-Kalgoorlie train service

14/7/94

Westrail is to increase the frequency of its Prospector train service between Perth and Kalgoorlie from next month.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said the additional services would begin next month and would coincide with the spring tourist season on the Goldfields and the annual racing round.

The new timetable incorporates an additional Prospector leaving Perth at 3 pm Tuesdays and another leaving Kalgoorlie 5 pm Wednesdays.

"More people will be able to take advantage of the new services which give Westrail clients two full days to explore historic Kalgoorlie and its environs," Mr Charlton said.

"The present timetable limits the number of daylight hours people have in Kalgoorlie, with two nights and just a day stop-over in the gold mining city.

"Under the new service they can get to Kalgoorlie on Monday night and have all day Tuesday and Wednesday before catching the return Prospector to Perth at 5 pm.

"The additional services will be high-speed, with just two stops - one at Merredin and the other at Southern Cross, with the added benefit of increasing services to those two centres.

"The new Tuesday service from Perth offers Goldfields business people the convenience of arriving in Perth the night before and conducting their business on Tuesday morning and early afternoon before leaving for Kalgoorlie at 3 pm."

Mr Charlton said Westrail was able to organise the additional services using existing resources.

He said Westrail met with local tourist industry and business representatives before formulating the new timetable.

The new services are in line with recommendations from the recent taskforce review into Westrail's rail and road coach operations, headed by National Party backbencher Murray Criddle.

One of the main recommendations of the Criddle report was a greater integration between Westrail and the tourism industry.

Media contact: Dean Roberts 321 7333/Pager: 480 9999 (94065)