New Midland train station officially opens to passengers marking the end of Metronet but train issues remain

New Metronet trains ‘made in WA’ likely won’t operate across the majority of the passenger network for years to come with the Cook Government uncommitted to delivering crucial upgrades. Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti were on hand to open the new Midland station on Sunday, officially marking the end of the line for the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure program. A 2017 election pledge by Labor, Metronet has delivered 23 brand new stations, expanded the network with 72 kilometres of additional track and seen 15 level crossings removed. “It’s not just about a train line. It’s not just about a connected train, bus and ferry system. It’s about transforming the way people move in and around and interact as part of this great community,” the Premier said at the opening of Midland station. “Getting them to schools, getting them into TAFE, getting them to universities, getting them to jobs, providing the quality of opportunity for everyone right across the metropolitan area. This is an incredible achievement.” According to the government, Metronet is the single largest investment into public transport that Perth has ever seen, but it has been plagued with exorbitant budget blowouts and delays. The Northern line extension from Butler to Yanchep was initially expected to cost $386m but by the time it opened in mid-2024, the price tag had surged to $1.37 billion. There were large cost increases as well for the Morley-Ellenbrook rail line and Thornlie-Cockburn Link projects delivered as part of Metronet. The final estimated cost to taxpayers for the program of works is more than $12.5 billion. “Many people have criticised Metronet over the years - I’ve been fortunate to be the one that carried this project over nine years,” Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said. “This is a project that will deliver incredible infrastructure and opportunities. “I think when you see the genuine happiness of people who have been using this infrastructure, you see it’s all worth it. “It’s about the community.” A key component of Metronet was Labor’s commitment to bring rail car manufacturing back to WA by purchasing 41 new C-Series trains from Alstom. At least 50 per cent of the work to build the 246 rail-cars will be done out of a purpose designed manufacturing and assembly facility at Bellevue. The government had expected to have 17 of the trains in service by 2023, but only eight had been delivered by the end of last year. Compatibility issues have also meant that the new fleet aren’t able to operate across the vast majority of the Transperth network. The 6-car trains are too long for the platforms at some of the older stations, which has left the vehicles only able to operate on the Yanchep and Mandurah lines. There’s no timeline from the Cook Government as to when it will fund the infrastructure works required to allow the C-series trains to enter passenger services across the rest of the network but Mrs Saffioti said it is on the list of priorities. “We’re looking at our key projects, for example, our rebuild at Royal Perth Hospital, for example, that new emergency department will be adjacent to McIver train station,” she said. “We really believe in making sure that we improve stations when we’re building things like major hospitals is very important. “So we’re looking at it - we’ve got a lot of expenditure asked on us. We have to manage our program going forward, given that we’ve already completed such a significant upgrade.” The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure had further ambitions as part of Metronet Stage 1 including a proposal for a light rail network of trams. Early planning for the proposal commenced in 2017, and a submission was sent to Infrastructure Australia two years later for further consideration but the project was placed on on hold. The Department had said it would consider light rail once Metronet works were completed, but the government has ruled out the proposal in the near future.