<p>The first services on Perth’s Northern Suburbs Railway extension will start on Monday (October 4), when the newly constructed Clarkson station is opened. </p> <p>Western Australian infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan said the opening was the first expansion of Perth’s rail network since 1993 and was the first step in plans to double capacity on the city’s passenger rail network.</p> <p>"Clarkson, which extends the Northern Suburbs Railway by a further four km from Currambine, is the first completed segment of the $1.518bn New MetroRail project," Ms MacTiernan said.</p> <p>Five new three-car trains will come into operation as part of the line opening.</p> <p>The government has decided to offer free travel on Perth’s trains on Monday to celebrate the occasion.</p> <p>Patronage on Perth’s passenger rail has recorded significant growth over the last decade, Ms MacTiernan said.</p> <p>Since the Joondalup line opened in 1993, annual patronage has increased from 14.2m passenger journeys to 31m.</p> <p>It is expected to jump to 51m by 2007ቤ, the government estimates. </p> <br />
