West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 29 June 1907, page 9


NEW FREMANTLE RAILWAY STATION. TO BE OPENED ON MONDAY. The handsome new railway station which has been erected in Fremantle at the junction of Market, Phillimore and Bay streets will be opened for passenger traffic on Monday morning. The last train to arrive at the old station will be that leaving Perth at 10.40 to-morrow night, while the last to depart will be at 10.30 p.m. The first train to leave the new station on Monday will be at 5.20 a.m., connecting at Perth with the day trains for Albany and the Eastern lines. In many respects the new Fremantle station is the most up-to-date in the State. The station buildings, which were designed by Mr. Dartnall, the Chief Engineer for Existing Lines, comprise a handsome pile, including a spacious booking hall in the centre, with four ticket windows, and provided with a number of seats, the flooring being in black and white tiling. Entrance to the platform is effected through collapsible wrought-iron gates. The platform itself is 500ft. long and 40ft. wide. At the south end of the building are situated the refreshment rooms, and the ladies' waiting and retiring rooms. Then comes, proceeding north, the entrance hall, and immediately succeeding are the booking office, the station-master's clerk's office, the station-master's office, the night-officer's room, entranc to the gentlemen's lavatories, guards' room, and porters' room. A brick wall facing the platform connects this main building with a smaller one, in which are located the left-luggage office, the parcels office, and the hush-room. A word about the lavatory accommodation: That pro vided for gentlemen is most extensive and considered the most complete in Australia. The appliances are of the most modern description, the flushings, both from the ladies' and gentlemen's lavatories, being conveyed to a septic tank situated between the station premises and the quay. The septic tank has been constructed according to the results of the very latest experience and there is considered to be no ground for believing that it will be other than a complete success. Divided by two lines of rails from the main platform is an island platform 500ft. long and 35ft. wide, on the western side of which are a pair of rails, which will probably be used to accommodate the Jandakot traffic, a large increase being looked for when the connection with Armadale is completed. The platforms are connected by means of two subways, one for passengers and the other for baggage and parcels. The former is reached by two flights of steps on either side, the entrances being approximately at the centres of the platforms. The walls are faced with white glazed tiles, while the floor is covered with Trinidad asphalting. This sub way is 13ft. wide and 8ft. high. Light is provided in the daytime by skylights let in between the permanent way. At the north ends of the platforms is the other subway. Electric lights are pro vided on each platform, that on the main being opposite the baggage, par cels and fish offices. This subway is 10ft wide and 7ft, 4in, high, while the walls are of concrete. Lighting is similar to that in the passenger subway, both, however at night will be lit lit by electricity. At the extreme south end of the island platform by the footbridge is the station signal-box. This is not the principal cabin connect ed with the station, that being some where about 150yds. to the north-west

of the platforms. At the south end of the main platform the lamp-room is located. This is a building 20ft. square with red-tiled roof. The station is covered in by a thin span roof, one line of posts being on the main platform, a second line of posts along the centre of the island platform, and the third row is situated clear of the Jandakot line. The spaces between this last row of posts have been filled in with galvanised iron, thus forming a protection during winter months, when the rain and wind comes up from the westward. The centre span is 49ft., and the two outside spans 30ft each. Over the apex of each roof is a lantern roof, supplying additional escapes for the smoke of the engines, as well as increased light for the station. On the slopes of each roof rolled glass skylights have been fixed, and the fear that the station would be dark is groundless. The main building is of red bricks with Donnybrook stone dressing, much of it, particularly at the main entrance, being elaborately carved. As the station stands back some distance from the intersection of Market, Phillimore, and Bay streets, special ap proaches have been made from three points. In the centre of the approaches are two reserves, which will be planted with trees and grass. In front of the entrance a wood-block cabrank has been provided, 150ft. long and 10ft. wide, and in front of the parcels a wood-block rank 100ft. long and 10ft. wide has been laid down. In case of fire most complete appliances have been put in to cope with any possible outbreak. It is not known whether any official ceremony will mark the opening of the new station.