{"id":156007,"date":"2024-12-09T09:01:09","date_gmt":"2024-12-08T23:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railexpress.com.au\/?p=118153"},"modified":"2024-12-09T09:01:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-08T23:01:09","slug":"metronet-ellenbrook-line-officially-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=156007","title":{"rendered":"METRONET Ellenbrook line officially open"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image\/METRONET<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

People in Perth’s north east are now connected to affordable, world-class public transport, with the METRONET Ellenbrook Line officially opening<\/a> on Sunday the 8th of December \u2013 marking the biggest expansion of Perth’s rail network in more than 16 years.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Delivered by the West Australian Government<\/a> with funding support from the Federal Government, the new line will connect tens of thousands of people in Perth’s growing north-eastern suburbs to the rail network for the first time.<\/p>\n

The 21-kilometre line includes five new stations at Morley, Noranda, Ballajura, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook, and will tie in with the new Bayswater Station that opened earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese spoke about how important projects like this are.<\/p>\n

“A well planned and accessible public transport system is a game-changer for local communities, and the Ellenbrook line will make it easier for thousands of residents to travel to and from the CBD,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I’m proud my Government could partner with the Cook Government to deliver this transformational project.”<\/p>\n

WA Premier Roger Cook said METRONET will change lives in the north-eastern suburbs, providing a fast and affordable link to the city on the world-class rail network.<\/p>\n

“I want to thank the thousands of workers that have built this game-changing infrastructure, and I want to thank the community for never giving up,” he said<\/p>\n

Each station has modern facilities with a total of 3,300 parking bays and 335 bicycle storage racks, with trains to operate every 12 minutes at peak times and every 15 minutes outside of this.<\/p>\n

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Image\/WA Government<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The journey from Ellenbrook to the city will take only 30 minutes \u2013 less than half the time it currently takes on public transport.<\/p>\n

Travel to and from Ellenbrook will be free on Sundays for everyone and free for students travelling to and from school. Generally, it will cost as little as $4.68 on the Cook Labor Government’s two-zone fare cap, delivering affordable transport while stimulating local employment, education and tourism opportunities.<\/p>\n

The north-east of the city will also see a significant improvement in bus services to support the new line, with around 100 new buses being brought into service, adding around five million bus service kilometres every year.<\/p>\n

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti spoke about the project, noting her pride in seeing it complete.<\/p>\n

“It’s been coming for a while, but I am very happy to be able to say today that Ellenbrook finally has a train,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I am proud to be part of a team that gets on with the job of delivering on its promises and I am proud of the community for never wavering in their determination to see this train line delivered.<\/p>\n

“I am thrilled for the communities in our north east who finally get their train, and look forward to seeing the Ellenbrook Line serve the community for decades to come.”<\/p>\n

At the 2017 election, the current government promised to deliver the line and, when coming into government, immediately commenced planning.<\/p>\n

A contract to construct the new line was awarded in late 2020, with early works beginning immediately, and major construction starting in the second half of 2021.<\/p>\n

Construction has supported approximately\u00a06,500\u00a0jobs, including 332 apprentices, 140 graduates and 290 Aboriginal employees.<\/p>\n

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said METRONET has truly set a remarkable standard in both design and delivery.<\/p>\n

“Perth’s transport system now ranks among the world’s best, exemplifying efficiency and excellence,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We take immense pride in having supported such a visionary and transformative project.<\/p>\n

“These new train stations are not just modern and world-class but also stylish and designed with the community and sustainability at the forefront. They are vibrant, welcoming spaces that beautifully integrate local stories and environmental considerations.<\/p>\n

“I congratulate the design teams and construction crews for their outstanding efforts in bringing these exceptional stations to life.”<\/p>\n

The state-of-the-art stations will unlock economic development in the local community including commercial and housing opportunities linked to major infrastructure and services.<\/p>\n

The construction included a number of major projects and milestones including:<\/p>\n