Work on the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link is steaming ahead, with the Mandurah Train Line on track to re-open for first service on Saturday January 15.
Almost 500 personnel have worked around the clock to remove three kilometres of rail tracks from the existing rail corridor between Cockburn Central Station and Glen Iris Tunnel to make way for the new Thornlie-Cockburn Link tracks to be laid.
As part of these works, more than 13,000 tonnes of ballast has been removed to make way for new tracks to be laid for Perth’s first east-west rail connection.
Work is now well underway to install the new rail tracks with more than five kilometres to be laid by the end of the shutdown.
Overhead line equipment is currently being installed on the Mandurah Line heading to Perth with track, rail and sleeper installation underway on the line heading to Cockburn Central.
Due to the complexity of these works, the Mandurah Line has been temporarily closed between Aubin Grove Station and Elizabeth Quay Station from Sunday December 26, 2021 until the last service Friday January 14, 2022.
Rail replacement buses have been running along the rail line, including express services, to and from the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC) which has been transformed into a major pop-up bus station.
So far, there has been more than 40,000 passenger boardings on the train replacement services from PCEC and up to 940 buses are using the pop-up station daily, with a bus leaving nearly every minute during peak hour.
A significant McGowan Government election commitment has also been delivered with public transport fares now capped at two zones.
This means no matter where a passenger is travelling to or from, they will pay no more than $4.90 cash or $3.92 on a SmartRider with Autoload.
This means passengers travelling from Mandurah can save up to $6.40 on a single journey with their SmartRider.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We are now halfway through the biggest public transport shutdown we have ever had in Perth.
“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience, and everyone involved in the project, from the workers on the ground to our bus drivers, for all of their hard work during this time.
“We know it is frustrating and disruptive for some people, and we apologise for this.
“Work on the project is progressing well, with three kilometres of the old track removed, 13,000 tonnes of ballast or track bed moved and new track starting to be laid – major works that are helping to facilitate the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
“We have also successfully implemented our two-zone fare cap, one of our major 2021 election commitments.
“This will be a game-changer for people who use public transport and could save commuters thousands of dollars a year.”
