Visionary rail expansion moves from plan to reality

20/3/03
Western Australia's massive urban rail expansion has moved from the planning phase to design and construction.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today opened an information centre and launched the New MetroRail identity for the urban rail expansion project.
Ms MacTiernan said the expansion of Perth's urban rail network south to Mandurah, north to Clarkson, and south-east to Thornlie was under way.
"Construction is almost complete on extensions to the Northern Suburbs Railway and land acquisition is under way for the inner city section of the works," she said.
"All of this is in readiness to support the most visionary rail project ever undertaken in WA - the doubling of our urban rail network by 2007."

The Minister said the former Perth Urban Rail Development (PURD) Office would now be called New MetroRail.
The accompanying message - Making the Connection - highlighted the project shift from planning to design and construction.
"The New MetroRail Information Centre will provide public and stakeholders with all they need to know about the Perth-to-Mandurah railway, as well as other urban rail works," Ms MacTiernan said.
"It is right in the middle of Perth, on the ground level at 124 William Street and opposite the William Street entrance to Raine Square."
The new centre, which is permanently staffed, will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays in the future.
It contains brochures, information displays, computer terminals for access to the project's web: http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au and a three-metre long model of one of the new trains currently being constructed.
"There is no doubt that the public, as well as the owners of businesses with premises on or adjacent to the railway's route, will be eager for written, visual and verbal information," the Minister said.
"As the project progresses, we expect the demand for information to expand.
"We want to make sure information is up-to-date, accurate and easy to understand and that, in return, we gain an insight into what the public feels about the project and the types of issues that are of concern."
Ms MacTiernan said the New MetroRail name was linked to a logo that highlighted the links between rail, river and north and south and brought together all the elements within the urban rail system.
These are the Perth-to-Mandurah project (including the route through the city), the extension to the Northern Suburbs Railway, the spur line to Thornlie and upgrades to rail services and infrastructure through Victoria Park.
The New MetroRail Information Centre can be contacted on toll free 1800 110 075 or info@newmetrorail.wa.gov.au.
Minister's office: 9213 6400