Commuters using the Joondalup line will ride free before 8am tomorrow after a signal failure held up trains for one and a half hours this morning, on the first day of a week-long rail closure.
The government will also refund the cost of any ticket default payments made by commuters.
The signal failure, caused by a glitch in line work being done between the Stirling and Glendalough train stations, delayed seven trains on the line this morning between 6:15 and 7:40, with many commuters forced to disembark atStirling.
Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes told reporters that replacement buses, positioned at Glendalough station, had been moved up to the Stirling station to pick up stranded passengers after the glitch was revealed, but these had also been delayed due to freeway congestion.
This morning's heavy rainfall exacerbated the situation, with even more cars hitting the roads than expected, causing traffic to bank up on the Mitchell and Kwinana Freeways from early in the morning.
The problem was fixed before eight o'clock, he said.
However, reports indicate that expected delays on Stirling Highway failed to eventuate, with traffic moving smoothly through the area and replacement buses at the Fremantle and Subiaco stations being used effectively.
Work to connect the new Mandurah rail line with the existing Joondalup line, requiring the installation and connection of new track, signalling, electical and communication systems, has led to power being cut from the Fremantle and Joondalup lines at Perth railway station.
This has led to the Fremantle line being closed for the duration of the week, and the termination of the Joondalup line at Leederville station, requiring passengers to walk to the city.
Trains operating on the Midland line will also be running to an altered timetable.
