METRONET — ARMADALE RAIL LINE
63. Mr H.T. JONES to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in job-creating transport projects,
including the delivery of Metronet.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the work underway to remove level crossings along
the Armadale line and outline what this project will mean for those in my
community?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on the delivery of other Metronet projects throughout
the south-eastern corridor, including the Byford rail extension and the
Thornlie–Cockburn Link?
Ms R.
SAFFIOTI replied:
I thank the
member for Darling Range for the question.
(1)–(2) Over
the weekend, I was joined by the Premier, the federal member for Canning and
the members for Victoria Park, Cannington, Armadale and Darling Range to
announce our plan for the Armadale rail line transformation. Nearly $2 billion
will be spent to upgrade the Armadale rail line. There will be many different
work fronts and benefits. Throughout Victoria Park and Cannington, five level
crossings will be removed. For example, the boom gates at the level crossing at
Wharf Street are currently down for about 25 minutes an hour, and will be down
for more than 45 minutes an hour over the next decade if we do not do something about it. Welshpool Road is a major
key connecting road in that area and it has a significant level crossing
that causes delays. We will remove five level crossings and build four new
train stations at Queens Park, Cannington,
Oats Street and Carlisle. Of course, we are working in the Beckenham–Kenwick
area as we integrate the new Thornlie–Cockburn Link into Beckenham.
Again, there will be more services for people in the Canning Vale–Thornlie
area.
The member will be very pleased to
know that we are extending the rail line by about eight kilometres to Byford
and that there will be a brand new Byford train station in the middle of the
town centre. We are working with the shire on how we can activate that entire
area. We are also rebuilding the Armadale train station to elevate the train
station and we are removing another seven level crossings throughout the
Armadale region. There will be enormous benefits. Of course, this means that
there will be less congestion and newer and safer train stations. It means we
will have the ability to have more integrated land use adjacent to those train
stations. It also means that people will have a much safer journey, and I think
that is very important.
Members, we are spending $2 billion.
It will be an incredible outcome. We will close that rail line for up to 18 months, so we will consult with the
community about alternative bus and other services. For example, the
member for Armadale has raised the ability for Armadale and Byford residents to
connect through to Cockburn along Armadale
Road due to the enormous work we have undertaken to improve Armadale Road
and create that new bridge. There will be
other options linking into the new Forrestfield–Airport Link and
new dedicated express services to make sure that those residents have
connections. We apologise for that disruption, but this is a transformation
that has not happened on that line. I know that the people in the south-east
corridor understand that this government is investing in that corridor and in
their suburbs like no other government ever has.