Yanchep line

Yanchep line
Yanchep line
	A B-series train in the Mitchell Freeway median strip north of Stirling station in October 2006
Overview
Other name(s)	Northern Suburbs Railway ; Joondalup line (former name)
Owner	Public Transport Authority (2003–present)
Locale	Perth, Western Australia
Termini	Yanchep (north); Elizabeth Quay (south);
Continues as	Mandurah line
Stations	16
Service
Type	Suburban rail
System	Transperth
Operator(s)	Public Transport Authority (2003–present); Westrail/WAGR (1992–2003);
Depot(s)	Nowergup; Mandurah (Mandurah line);
Rolling stock	Transperth B-series trains; Transperth C-series trains;
Ridership	16,135,201 (year to June 2024)
History
Commenced	November 1989
Opened	20 December 1992 (partial); 21 March 1993 (full opening);
Last extension	14 July 2024
Technical
Line length	54.5 km (33.9 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	At-grade and underground
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph)
Signalling	Fixed block signalling
Train protection system	Automatic train protection
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	v; t; e;

The Yanchep line (known as the Joondalup line prior to 14 July 2024) is a suburban railway line and service in Perth, Western Australia, linking the city's central business district (CBD) with its northern suburbs. Operated by the Public Transport Authority as part of the Transperth system, the Yanchep line is 54.5 kilometres (33.9 mi) long and has sixteen stations. It commences in a tunnel under the Perth CBD as a through service with the Mandurah line. North from there, the line enters the median strip of the Mitchell Freeway, where nine of the line's stations are. The Yanchep line diverges from the freeway to serve the centre of Joondalup and permanently leaves the freeway north of Butler for the northernmost four stations to Yanchep.

Planning for a rapid transit service to the northern suburbs began in 1987. After several transport modes were considered, including bus rapid transit, an electric railway was chosen. Known during planning and construction as the Northern Suburbs Railway, the project was approved by state cabinet in late 1989 and construction began in November 1989. The line was built under several different contracts, with the total cost of the original project being A$277 million. It used widely-spaced stations with bus interchanges and large park-and-rides, distinguishing the line from Perth's three existing rail lines. The line opened on 20 December 1992 as the Joondalup line to limited service and with three stations: Leederville, Edgewater and Joondalup. Four more stations opened in February 1993, and on 21 March 1993, peak service and feeder bus routes commenced. The final station, Currambine, opened on 8 August 1993.

An extension north to Clarkson station and rebuild of Currambine station opened on 4 October 2004, which coincided with the introduction of B-series trains. On 29 January 2005, Greenwood opened as an infill station. The Joondalup line originally through-ran with the Armadale line via Perth station, but in 2005, the line started terminating at Perth station, and on 15 October 2007 the line was rerouted through a new tunnel under the CBD, with two new stations: Perth Underground and Elizabeth Quay. The Mandurah line opened on 23 December 2007 to connect with the southern end of that tunnel. An extension north to Butler station opened on 21 September 2014 and a three station extension north to Yanchep station was opened on 14 July 2024, upon which the line became the Yanchep line.

B-series and C-series trains are the main rolling stock used on the Yanchep line. End-to-end services run at a fifteen minute headway, reducing to a ten minute headway in peak. Additional peak services run between Perth and Whitfords or Clarkson stations, making for a five minute headway on inner sections of the line. The travel time from Yanchep to Perth Underground is 49 minutes. The Yanchep line received 16,135,201 boardings in the 2023–24 financial year, making it the second busiest line in the Transperth system, after the Mandurah line.