A construction boom in the north-eastern suburbs of Perth will begin with the construction of the new Morley-Ellenbrook line.
The 21-kilometre line will support 3,000 local jobs in its construction, with not only the new rail line being built, but an array of parking facilities, transport interchange hubs, and access routes are part of the plan.
The Western Australian cabinet has endorsed the Project Definition Plan for the new line, which outlines the facilities that will be built to enable 11,700 people to board trains on the line on its first day of operations, expected to be in 2023-2024.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said that the new line will be in addition to a significant amount of rail infrastructure projects underway around Perth.
“This year alone we have seven METRONET projects under construction, which is a significant transformation to our State’s infrastructure and public transport build,” he said.
Stations will be built at Ellenbrook, Whiteman Park, Malaga, Noranda and Morley. The line will connect to the existing rail network at Bayswater Station, and passengers will not need to change trains to get into the CBD. The total journey time from Ellenbrook to the CBD is expected to be 30 minutes.
A number of overpasses and underpasses will be built as part of the line. After leaving Bayswater Station, the line will travel over the Midland Line and then under the Tonkin Highway’s northbound lanes. Road over rail bridges will be built at Beechboro Road North, Dulwich Street, and at the Gnangara Road, Drumpellier Driver intersection. Above Morley station, the Broun Avenue bridge will be rebuilt to support a new bus interchange.
In total, the plan includes parking for 3,300 cards, four bus interchanges, cycle facilities, shared paths, toilets at the stations which will be universally accessible. The location and design of the stations has been developed to stimulate transport-oriented development, particularly at Malaga, Whiteman Park, and Ellenbrook, said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
“This project is more than just a train line – it is about giving locals more options when choosing how they travel, where they work and where they want to live.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the forecast patronage on the line demonstrated the need for a rail solution.
“Thousands of people will use this line from day one of operation, stripping cars off Perth roads and busting congestion,” he said.
While early works at Bayswater station have already begun, two contractors have been shortlisted to deliver the main construction contract, Ellenbrook Alliance (CPB Contractors and Downer EDI) and MELconnex, consisting of Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction. The main contract is expected to be awarded before the end of 2020.