The Australind - Australia

The Australind

When the Australind service was introduced in 1947, it represented the vital completing link in the provision of a new coordinated rail-road service network throughout the State's south-west.

The Perth-Bunbury luxury passenger express service offered all the latest creature comforts including – for the first time on any Australian railway – fluorescent lighting.

Hauled by a steam locomotive, the new Australind whisked up to 285 passengers over the 186km journey in less than 3.5 hours. A service was provided in each direction every day of the week except Sundays.

By the mid-60s, the journey time was down to about three hours, reflecting the changeover to a diesel-electric locomotive, with the Australind still regarded as the "glamour" train of Western Australia. Travel brochures of the time proudly proclaimed that the level of passenger comfort – which included carpeting throughout, piped music and public address system, comfortable two-tone seats and buffet-lounge cars featuring stylish stainless steel and quilted plastic – could not be exceeded anywhere, even by air travel.

This comparison was recalled when the current Australind, by now operating with self-powered diesel units which are stabled and serviced at Bunbury, was introduced in 1987 and used as one of its marketing slogans: "The train that thinks it is a plane."

The Australind now provides two services each way each day – including Sundays – and the journey time has been cut to two hours and 15 minutes (though rail congestion around Perth has resulted in the scheduling being geared around a trip of about 2.5 hours).

Save Money with a Transwa SmartCommuter Card

If you’re a regular user of the MerredinLink and the AvonLink, the Transwa SmartCommuter Card is a great way to save on your fare. For an annual fee of just $60, you’ll enjoy a 35% discount off the standard adult fare every time you travel. Plus the good news is, you can use the Transwa SmartCommuter Card for discounts on the Australind and MerredinLink (between East Perth and Northam) services, too.

Australind

• Route: Perth - Bunbury and vice versa
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Distance: 181 kilometres
• Frequency: 28 services per week