Metronet
Metronet costs balloon by $700 million as state pays to get people moving
Stage one of the Labor government’s flagship Metronet project climbed $2 billion in 2023 alone, taking the total cost of the network to around $11.5 billion.
- by Holly Thompson
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Victoria Park
Why Saffioti is ‘100 per cent confident’ Armadale line will open on time
Three months after beginning Perth’s most lengthy and disruptive rail shutdown ever, the government remains confident of the opening date – and of people’s patience.
- by Hamish Hastie
Whiteman Park tramway to link up with Morley to Ellenbrook train line
The line will include 1.3 kilometres of new tram tracks, 3900 rail sleepers and 3000 tonnes of ballast.
- by Hamish Hastie
Analysis
Public transport
Metronet cost jumps $2 billion in 12 months
Since December last year, the cost of delivering Metronet has ballooned by an eye-watering amount, taking the total cost of the network north of $11 billion.
- by Hamish Hastie
Saffioti ‘nervous’ but optimistic as trains stop rolling to one-fifth of Perth
About 10,000 Armadale line commuters were forced to take rail replacement buses, find their way to the Mandurah line, or work from home from Monday morning.
- by Hamish Hastie
It took a year to fix a 45-metre bridge. How will the Armadale train line be done in 18 months?
Questions have been raised as to whether extensive renovations to the Armadale train line will finish on time and budget, given the time taken to refurbish a small suburban bridge.
- by Sarah Brookes
The train gets you from Cannington to Perth in 17 minutes. The bus? Not so much
Around 13,000 commuters will be thrown into buses and cars when the Armadale line shuts down until mid-2025. WAtoday crunched the numbers to estimate their new commutes.
- by Sarah Brookes
Exclusive
Public transport
Metronet is getting a you-beaut digital radio network. Why are we still spending money on analogue systems?
The PTA said the analogue radio network was “beyond its end of life” but will have to be maintained for several years until the network is digitised.
- by Hamish Hastie
Designs for long-awaited Byford train station revealed
The station forms part of the $797 million Byford rail extension Metronet project.
- by Hamish Hastie
18-month closure: Armadale line shutdown date announced
The line will be closed for 18 months with a third of commuters telling WAtoday they planned to drive into work during the disruption and pray for a car park.
- by Sarah Brookes
No pain, no gain? Metronet’s mind-boggling disruption to Perth commuters
Across Perth, Metronet is powering ahead. But with cost blowouts, rail shutdowns and added congestion on the roads has the public been sold a pup?
- by Sarah Brookes