Perth’s south-east opens up again as final stage of Armadale line extension complete

5 hours ago 4

It may have come in over time and over budget, but for commuters on Perth’s Armadale line, it’s over at last.

And for WA Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, Sunday marked the culmination of an election promise made more than a decade ago as the then-McGowan opposition stormed into power.

Premier Roger Cook, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Darling Range MP Hugh Jones step off the train at the Byford Train Station opening on Sunday.

The Armadale to Byford line has officially opened, allowing commuters to take a roughly 46-minute train journey from Perth’s south-eastern fringe to the CBD.

Sunday’s opening also brings to an end the ambitious closure of the Armadale line for almost two years to complete what was in effect several major engineering projects rolled into one.

Saffioti had previously expressed confidence the project would be done by May, in just 18 months, then the start of June, before construction issues pushed the timeframe out again earlier this year.

However, on Sunday, the transport minister was full of thanks for the community along the south-eastern corridor who had, in her words, simply “got on with it”.

“And can I thank and recognise the people of this corridor who understand that with every great project there will be disruption,” she said.

“When I grew up in the hills, Byford was a place that you went through. It wasn’t a destination.

“Now we know Byford is a major destination for new home buyers, there’s a new shopping centre precinct, and it’s continuing to develop.

“This new infrastructure means that people along this corridor have access to world-class infrastructure, 46 minutes from Byford to the city centre, a brand-new, world-class station, beautiful connectivity, and as has been highlighted, this is the canvas for more housing and for economic activity in this corridor.”

WA Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti are joined by federal Transport Minister Catherine King, Burt MP Matt Keogh, Armadale MP Tony Buti and Darling Range MP Hugh Jones at the opening of the Byford Train Station on Sunday.

The extension was initially budgeted at $797 million, but has over the years blown out to $1.33 billion, mirroring similar cost overruns across the rest of Metronet.

The government has largely blamed disruptions from COVID and conflicts overseas, as well as an expansion of the overall scope of Metronet, for the rising costs.

Saffioti admitted the first few years on the Metronet journey were “very, very tough”.

“It’s been a tough, tough era to deliver infrastructure,” she said.

“No one could have foreseen some of the conflicts through both Russia and the Middle East, but in particular, COVID.”

The treasurer was “relieved but very sad” to see the ambitious public transport project finally draw to a close, admitting checking on the progress of construction had been a daily ritual in recent years.

But she rejected the idea voters would seek to punish Labor for cost blowouts the next time WA went to the polls, pointing to the party’s strong showing in March.

“Public transport is a community asset. It outlasts me. It outlasts all of us. It’s for future generations,” she said.

Saffioti and Cook were joined by federal Transport Minister Catherine King, Burt MP Matt Keogh, Armadale MP Tony Buti and Darling Range MP Hugh Jones for the line’s opening on Sunday.

A community open day was also held to celebrate the opening of the new train station, and the completion of a mammoth engineering task which included the removal of nine rail crossings and elevation of the rail line through Perth’s east; the construction of 8 kilometres of dual-rail track; and the creation of hectares of public open space, including the newly opened Long Park.

“Metronet has transformed the face of Perth,” Cook said.

“Today marks the delivery of every Metronet station we committed to in the 2017 state election, with just the Midland train station to be completed very, very shortly.”

There was also excitement at what the increased public transport offering meant for Perth’s south-eastern corridor.

“Byford is now only a train ride away from new job and study opportunities, events, and outings in the CBD and Optus Stadium, and access to reliable and affordable public transport right on our doorstep,” Jones said.

Monday will be the first day the train line is fully operational and open to the public, coinciding with the return of school for the final term of the year.

And for those in the south-east, it is the last step and finally a return to normalcy at the end of the longest and most disruptive rail shut-down in Perth’s history.

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