Bus/train interchanges on northern subs railway to open February

The four bus and train interchanges on the $276 million northern suburbs railway at Whitfords, Warwick, Stirling and Glendalough will open on February 28.

Transport Minister Pam Beggs today said the opening of the stations was the forerunner to the introduction of a fully integrated bus and train service to begin on March 7.

"The opening of the stations and the integrated bus services will give residents in the northern corridor a modern, world-class transport service," Mrs Beggs said.

"This integrated service has been planned to meet the needs of the residents until well into the next century.

"A feature of the service will be efficiency with no compromise on passenger security."

Mrs Beggs said the Glendalough interchange had space for five buses, park'n'ride capacity for 230 vehicles, kiss'n'ride parking, and parking bays for taxis and people with disabilities.  It also had bicycle locker facilities.

Whitfords, Stirling and Warwick had similar facilities but space for up to 570, 600 and 950 cars respectively.

"The opening of the stations and the introduction of the fully integrated services one week later marks a new era for the northern suburbs," Mrs Beggs said.

"Residents will have greater flexibility in choosing where they want to work and where they want to live.

"The railway also means residents without their own vehicles will be freed from what otherwise would have been a transport trap."

Mrs Beggs said the State Government was committed to improving Perth's public transport system.

"It means we will unlock the 'mental garage' so that people do not have to rely on private vehicles for commuting," she said.

"It also will relieve much of the peak-hour congestion on the Mitchell Freeway and make a positive contribution towards the metropolitan environment."