New MetroRail

New MetroRail was a division of the Public Transport Authority in Western Australia. It was responsible for managing extensions to Perth's railway network. The project doubled Perth's rail network, which is operated by Transperth, and was completed in 2007, after various projects were completed. Costing $1.6 billion, the project was the largest public transport project ever undertaken by the Western Australian government and effectively doubled the size of Perth's railway network. A similar agency Metronet was created in 2017 for future Perth rail extensions.

History

In December 1994, the Metropolitan Region Scheme was amended to include the original route for the Mandurah Railway, via Kenwick, using the existing Woodbridge to Kwinana freight line, and the Armadale line. In July 1995, the Court Liberal government announced it would build the new line to Mandurah (via Kenwick), and committed to completing the line from Kenwick to Jandakot by 2005.

In April 1997, the same government approved funding for the South West Metropolitan Railway Master Plan. The Master Plan was completed in April 2000. In June of the same year, the plan for the Currambine to Butler extension was released, which formed part of the Northern Suburbs Railway Interim Master Plan.[1]

In February 2001, the Gallop Labor government was elected. In August 2002, that government announced that the rail alignment from Jandakot to Perth would run in the median of the Kwinana Freeway, and not via Kenwick as previously planned. In December 2007, the Mandurah railway line opened, meaning that the project was complete.

The Perth Urban Rail Development Project was renamed in March 2003 to New MetroRail. The organisation had an information centre in the Perth central business district for the public to obtain information on New MetroRail projects.[2][3][4]

Projects

Northern suburbs railway
Further information: Northern Suburbs Transit System § Currambine to Clarkson Extension

Works on the northern suburbs line within the project included:[5]

  • Acquisition of relevant lands, funded from the 2000/2001 state budget
  • The construction of a new Currambine station to a location within the middle of the Mitchell Freeway road reserve, along with associated approach works
  • Demolition of the previous Currambine station, including associated sidings and rolling stock cleaning facilities
  • Construction of Clarkson station and associated works
  • A new station at Greenwood, Greenwood station
  • Construction of a rail bridge at Burns Beach Road
  • Construction of a road bridge at Hester Avenue
  • Construction of the new Nowergup railway depot
  • Construction of the rail reserve and 4 km of railway track from Burns Beach Road to Nowgerup, along with associated necessary works including communications and signalling
  • Upgrade of existing station platforms along the line to a length of 144 m to accommodate 6-carriage rolling stock[6]
  • The purchase and delivery of new railcars at a cost of A$23 million (2000)

Southern suburbs railway
Main article: Mandurah railway line

City works
  • Construction of new underground platforms at Perth Station under William Street
  • Construction of a new underground station at The Esplanade[7]
  • Construction of twin bored tunnels under the CBD
  • Construction of cut and cover tunnel and open dive structure along Perth foreshore

Thornlie spur line

Victoria Park works
  • Construction of a new Victoria Park station
  • Demolition of Lathlain station
  • Renovation of Carlisle station
  • Construction of a new road over rail bridge at Miller Street, Victoria Park
  • Construction of a new road over rail bridge at Gerard Street, Cannington
  • Construction of a new shared bicycle-pedestrian bridge at Howick Street, Victoria Park

References
  1. Northern Suburbs Transit System, Currambine to Butler Extension, Interim Master Plan (PDF). Perth, Western Australia: Urban Rail Planning and Implementation Steering Committee, Department of Transport, Government of Western Australia. 2000. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2007. Accessed at J S Battye Library, Perth
  2. "Visionary rail expansion moves from plan to reality". Media Statements. 20 March 2003. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. Higham, Geoffrey (2007). Marble Bar to Mandurah : a history of passenger rail services in Western Australia. Rail Heritage WA. ISBN 9780980392203.
  4. Western Australia. New MetroRail; Western Australia. Public Transport Authority (2004), NewMetroRail, Public Transport Authority, retrieved 11 June 2023
  5. Northern Suburbs Transit System, Currambine to Butler Extension, Interim Master Plan (PDF). Perth, Western Australia: Urban Rail Planning and Implementation Steering Committee, Department of Transport, Government of Western Australia. 2000. pp. 55–56, 65, 67–71. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2007. Accessed at J S Battye Library, Perth
  6. Northern Suburbs Transit System, Currambine to Butler Extension, Interim Master Plan (PDF). Perth, Western Australia: Urban Rail Planning and Implementation Steering Committee, Department of Transport, Government of Western Australia. 2000. p. 74. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2007.74, Accessed at J S Battye Library, Perth
  7. renamed to Elizabeth Quay in 2016
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