The WA and Federal Governments have officially opened the $1.86 billion METRONET Airport Line, with the first train pulling out of High Wycombe Station on Sunday.
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, WA Premier, Mark McGowan and WA Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti rode the first train to formally launch the service.
Premier McGowan said it was a momentous day for the WA and the first time a new train line has opened in Perth in almost 15 years.
“Thank you to everyone involved in this mammoth feat of engineering – the thousands of workers, hundreds of subcontractors, lead contractors Webuild Group and NRW, our transport agencies and all of our project partners,” Mr McGowan said.
The Premier said the METRONET Airport Line was a game-changer for the eastern suburbs and foothills.
“We are delivering on our METRONET vision to connect suburbs, create jobs, reduce congestion, and create liveable communities connected by world-class public transport.”
The new Airport Line adds 8.5km to Perth’s rail network, and travels underneath the Swan River and Perth Airport, reaching around 27 metres below ground at its deepest point.
There are expected to be about 20,000 daily trips along the new line in its first year, with trains stopping at all stations between High Wycombe and Claremont.
Trains on the Airport Line will operate every 12 minutes at peak, every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night.
It is the only train service in the country that will transport commuters to and from the airport, at the regular passenger fare, which is capped at $5.
The new line will be supported by an enhanced bus network, connecting surrounding suburbs to the three new stations.
This will add an extra 26 new buses and 1.7 million annual bus service kilometres to Perth’s public transport network.
The opening of the Airport Line has so far created 153 full-time equivalent jobs within Transperth train operations, including new positions for 27 customer service staff, 65 transit officers and 48 railcar drivers.
During its construction phase the project created 2,000 jobs, with works largely continuing throughout the pandemic.
