- METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line to officially
open on Sunday, 8 December
- Major WA Labor election commitment delivered,
providing high-quality affordable public transport for Perth's north-eastern
suburbs
- Train line
will formally be known as the Ellenbrook Line upon opening
- Community event to mark the milestone, with
regular services beginning the next day
The
METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line will officially open on Sunday, 8 December,
delivering on a major WA Labor election commitment to provide high-quality,
affordable public transport to Perth's north-eastern suburbs.
The 21-kilometre
METRONET Ellenbrook Line starts at Bayswater Station, with five new stations at
Morley, Noranda, Ballajura, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook.
Under
the Cook Labor Government's two-zone fare cap, riding the train will only cost
commuters in the north-eastern suburbs $4.16 with a SmartRider - with free
fares on Sundays, and free travel for school students throughout the week.
Journey
times will be around 31 minutes from Ellenbrook to Perth, 27 minutes from
Whiteman Park, 22 minutes from Ballajura, 19 minutes from Noranda and 17 minutes
from Morley.
The
Morley-Ellenbrook Line was the flagship project of WA Labor's METRONET election
commitment in 2017, after the former Liberal Government broke its 2008 promise.
The
$1.65 billion METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line is jointly funded by the
Commonwealth and State Governments, and has created around 6,500 jobs
throughout construction.
To
celebrate the opening of the new Ellenbrook Line, a community event will be
held on Sunday, December 8 - with regular passenger services to commence the
next day.
The
community event will include family-friendly entertainment at each of the five
new stations including free sausage sizzles, food trucks, entertainment and
music. Further details about the community event will be announced closer to
the opening date.
With
the date set for the Ellenbrook Line opening, METRONET has been updated to
reflect the program's shift into operations. As part of the update, branding
will be progressively added at stations and on network maps over an extended
period, as existing signage reaches its end of life.
Comments attributed to
Premier Roger Cook:
"Living in Kwinana, I
know how life-changing a rail line can be for our suburban communities.
"This METRONET project will
transform the north-eastern suburbs, providing affordable or free public
transport on a world-class rail network for tens of thousands of local
families.
"Our WA Labor Government promised
the Ellenbrook Line, and on the 8th of December, we'll fulfil that commitment -
because affordable public transport for the suburbs is in our DNA.
"Only our WA Labor
Government can be trusted to deliver affordable public transport for Western
Australia, because only WA Labor will do what's right for WA."
Comments attributed to
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"I
am thrilled for the communities in our north-east who have waited so long for
this train line.
"This
train line will be a game changer for these communities, offering affordable
and reliable transport options to get around our city.
"These
communities were let down by the Liberals and Nationals, who made promise after
promise, but never delivered a thing.
"I
am proud to be part of a government that gets on with the job, and in just two
months, the community will be jumping on the first train to Ellenbrook."
