Perth City Link rail complete ahead of schedule

• Opening of pedestrian underpass at Perth Station the final milestone in Perth City Link rail project

• $360million project included sinking a 600m section of the Fremantle Line

• Project completed on budget and six months ahead of schedule

The final stage of the transformational Perth City Link rail project is complete, with the opening of a pedestrian underpass to the public.

Visiting the site today, Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the project had come in on budget and was delivered six months ahead of schedule.

"This is a very significant day for the people of Perth because the State Government has achieved something that has been talked about for decades," Mr Buswell said.

"The Perth City Link project lays the foundation for fulfilling the dream of reconnecting the CBD and Northbridge.

"Together with Elizabeth Quay, the Riverside project, and the new Perth Stadium, the Perth City Link is part of an era of transformation in our city, which will deliver benefits for generations of Western Australians."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said it was commendable that a project of this magnitude and complexity was completed ahead of schedule.

"The successful completion is an excellent outcome for the people of Perth as it will transform how people use the city," Mr Truss said.

"The Australian Government has contributed $236million to the rail component of the project."

Construction started late in 2011 and involved creating a 600m underground tunnel to sink Fremantle Line.

More than 7500 cubic metres of concrete was used in the construction of the new pedestrian underpass, which opened to the public today and will be used by more than 9000 people daily who connect from Perth Underground to Perth Station.

The underpass will provide a more direct route and save time on transferring between the stations.

The $360million rail project was jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments and the City of Perth, and was delivered under an alliance agreement between the Public Transport Authority, John Holland and GHD.

Mr Buswell said the Perth City Link rail had been a complex project and an engineering masterpiece and all involved should be congratulated, including the general public for their patience with the necessary disruptions.

"The early completion of the rail infrastructure means the second phase of this project, sinking the Wellington Street Bus Station, can now get under way," Mr Buswell said.

A temporary pedestrian walkway from William Street in Perth to William Street in Northbridge also opened today.

"This is the first link from one side of the site to the other and wouldn't have been possible without all these works to sink the Fremantle Line," Mr Buswell said.

"The walkway will provide direct access from Wellington Street through to the Roe Street side of the site where a temporary bus station is under construction."

        Fact File

• The estimated total cost to complete the rail works and sink the bus station is $609million

• Part of that funding, $236million, was allocated by the Federal Government and the City of Perth is contributing about $38million

• Work on the new $249million underground bus station will begin early next year

• More than 22,000 people will be using the new underpass each day by 2031

Transport Minister's office - 6552 6400