The Western Australian government has released a tender for planning and engineering services for the Morley-Ellenbrook Metronet project set to get underway in 2019.
The McGowan government set forth commitments in its 2017-18 budget to plan for key METRONET priority rail projects, and to provide construction funding for the Thornlie-Cockburn Link, Yanchep Rail Extension and Forrestfield-Airport Link.
State transport minister Rita Saffioti said that planning work for the Ellenbrook Line had entered “high gear”, but that local businesses now had to step up and progress this work.
“The vision for these projects is already there; now we need to complete the detailed planning,” Saffioti said.
“We started with a blank slate upon entering office, and have made significant progress in just seven months of government.”
The successful tenderer will work in collaboration with the Metronet team to develop and “Options Study Analysis” for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
The planning works will include route option analysis, preliminary land use investigations, planning and concept designs, including any grade separations, stations and surrounding precincts.
The 21-kilometre Morley-Ellenbrook Line will spur off the existing Midland Line near Bayswater station (which will also receive upgrades as part of the construction process). Six new train stations will be built at Morley, Noranda, Malaga, Bennett Springs, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook.
Construction work is expected to begin on the line in 2019 and be completed in 2022.
Saffioti said that further tenders for other Metronet projects would be released progressively over the next 12 months.
“We’re determined to bring even more Metronet projects closer to fruition in the coming months, and I am particularly looking forward to creating more jobs, more opportunities for business and more integrated transport projects to benefit WA,” she said.
I hope the ‘Options Study Analysis’ will seriously contemplate a tunnel & U/G station in the City rather than the current plan to branch off the Midland line near Bayswater. I can foresee major bottleneck issues with Midland & FAL services both within Perth Station and through to Bayswater + Country passenger and interstate passenger services to/from East Perth through Bayswater.