Butler to Brighton railway extension moves closer

The $240.7million project to extend the Joondalup rail line to Butler has moved a step closer with the passing by State Parliament of the Butler to Brighton Railway Bill 2010.

Once proclaimed, the Railway (Butler to Brighton) Act 2010 will establish the legislative authority to extend the metropolitan rail network approximately 7.5 kilometres north of Clarkson Station to a new park 'n' ride and bus transfer station, called Butler Station.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien said the Butler extension was a strategic, incremental expansion to Perth's integrated public transport system.

"With the local population in Perth's north-west suburbs expected to quadruple by 2031, the Butler extension provides a valuable service to these rapidly-growing communities," Mr O'Brien said.

"The project will also ease pressure on the Mitchell Freeway and major road corridors with more than 2,000 passengers expected to board at Butler Station every day."

Butler Station will provide approximately 1,000 car bays, and the project will include the addition of 11 new buses to provide feeder services into Butler and Clarkson stations.

The extension to the Joondalup Line is scheduled to be operational by December 2014. Planning and procurement for the project is on track, under the supervision of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) on behalf of the State Government.

Four additional railcars have also been acquired to accommodate the extra passengers.

Once completed the extension provides an opportunity to positively influence land use around the station as a Transit Oriented Development.