- Freight
line relocated to make way for METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link
- Works
now ramping up on new stations at Ranford Road and Nicholson Road
- METRONET
Thornlie-Cockburn Link to be Perth's first east-west connecting rail line
- New
link to connect Mandurah and Armadale Lines for first time
The delivery of the
METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link has reached an important milestone, with the
relocation of 22-kilometres of freight rail now complete.
The freight rail
needed to be relocated to the northern side of the rail corridor to allow for construction
of the new METRONET Thornlie Cockburn-Link. The existing freight rail and the
new Thornlie-Cockburn Link will operate side-by-side in the rail corridor.
Relocation of the
freight line involved construction of an entirely new freight line, which
included 70,000 tonnes of ballast, 33,000 concrete sleepers, and 4,000 tonnes
of track.
With the freight
rail now relocated, and trains now switched and running on the new alignment,
works are ramping up on the project, with construction on the entry building
for the Nicholson Road Station now underway.
The relocation of
the freight rail also means track laying for the new Thornlie-Cockburn Link can
commence.
Nicholson Road
Station will have 1,000 parking bays, and will be a 26-minute journey to Perth,
while Ranford Road Station will have 400 parking bays and will be a 29-minute
journey.
The Cook Government
is getting on with delivering METRONET, which will include 20 new train
stations, 13 level crossings removed, and more than six hectares of new public
open space created.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"It's full steam ahead on METRONET right across the suburbs of Perth.
"The METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link will be our first east-west rail
line, slashing commuting times for people in our south-eastern suburbs.
"We are creating infrastructure that will re-shape Perth, better connect
communities across the metropolitan region and create thousands of local jobs."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister
Rita Saffioti:
"This was a complex and technically demanding task, which
was years in the planning and involved close collaboration to overcome the many
challenges.
"The relocation of the freight rail is critical to the
overall METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link project, as it means we can now get to
work on the passenger rail and new stations.
"The 17.5km extension from Thornlie to Cockburn Central will serve
the current and future growth occurring between the Mandurah and Armadale lines
and address gaps in public transport in these communities as well as provide a
direct link to Optus Stadium for Mandurah Line passengers."
Comments attributed to Southern
River MLA Terry Healy:
"The METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link is a fantastic project that will
connect thousands of people living between the Mandurah and Armadale
lines to our world class rail network.
"This is a growing area and currently a gap on our rail network so
delivering this new link will ensure communities have access to high quality
public transport.
"I want to congratulate the project team for their efforts in relocating
the freight rail, which means work on the new passenger rail can get underway."
Comments attributed to Thornlie MLA Chris
Tallentire:
"I want to congratulate the project team for their efforts in relocating
the freight rail – it's a major project in itself.
"As a community we are thrilled the freight trains will be running on
the new smooth tracks.
"With the freight line now in its new alignment and operational, I am
excited to see the works ramp up on the new stations and tracks being laid for
the new passenger rail."
