WeegieDave Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Good news if it goes ahead... And it's another potential big infrastructure project for the city... The West Australian Government is set to announce plans to sink the entire Perth airport rail link underground, with tunnelling to start in the marginal seat of Forrestfield. The rail link will branch off the existing Perth to Midland line near Bayswater train station, through to the future consolidated Perth airport terminal, which will include domestic and international terminals. Originally only four kilometres was going to be underground but it is understood the tunnel will now continue from the airport precinct under the Swan River and link up with the railway line in Bayswater. The original plan included a tunnel only from about where the domestic terminal is now, under the runway, under the proximity of the control tower at the international airport, and then over through to Forrestfield. The ABC understands the final route was signed off by Cabinet this week and the Government is planning to release details at the Liberal Party's state conference on Saturday. The airport rail link was a key Liberal election commitment, unveiled in February in the lead up to the state poll. In December, then transport minister Troy Buswell revealed the Government was considering sinking the entire airport rail link underground, but said the Government would not do it if it was more expensive. At the time he was accused of raising the issue in a bid to distract attention from the Government's decision to shelve another major Liberal election promise - the MAX light rail project. Then in June, new Transport Minister Dean Nalder revealed the Government was investigating four different routes for the airport rail link, even though freedom of information documents had previously shown two options were on the table. Expense a consideration for underground link The ABC understands the Government's modelling on different routes has revealed there is little cost difference between sinking the entire rail link and sinking only part of it, and building the rest above ground. The Government also favours the sinking option because it will result in far less impact on surrounding communities and traffic. When first announcing the project, Mr Buswell said the $1.9 billion rail line would have three stations, 3,000 parking bays and would be built by 2018. The project includes construction of new suburban stations at Forrestfield, the Airport Consolidated Terminal and Airport West - the domestic airport precinct. The airport train line is now expected to start construction in 2016 and take its first passengers in 2020. When quizzed at the weekend about the airport rail link, Mr Nalder would only say an announcement was "very close". "The Premier has previously indicated that we will be underground at the airport but beyond that, I'm not going to make any further comment," he said. "We're following proper processes, there's a couple of processes that still need to be signed off throughout this before any public announcement can be made." Transport expert welcomes proposal Transport and sustainability expert Peter Newman said the proposed rail link Perth Airport was an important step forward for the city. Mr Newman, from Curtin University, said extending the link to Forrestfield makes good planning sense. "It will link into all the buses coming down from the hills," he said. "So it's actually not just an airport rail line." He said the proposal is a sign of future rail trends for Perth. "Most train systems in the world are now being done underground," he said. "I think that it's a breakthrough for us. If we can do it on the airport rail we can do it on other sections of rail that do need to be built still." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest66881 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Keep us away from that pesky sun at least :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 How long would that take to build then I wonder... they don't seem to be the quickest at getting proposed train lines in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 How long would that take to build then I wonder... they don't seem to be the quickest at getting proposed train lines in... Read the article Fiona... 4 years :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest66881 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Gonna take a lot of paddies to dig that tunnel:laugh: TAXI:wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Read the article Fiona... 4 years :wink: Sorry Dave ....too busy proof reading Paul's threads:tongue: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest66881 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Sorry Dave ....too busy proof reading Paul's threads:tongue: Boolocks:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOL Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Would be nice if they extend the project with a rail from Wannerroo to the CBD as well :chatterbox: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 We've had a train station on our suburb plans for about 4 years, still waiting. But I hope it all does go ahead . Must be honest though I'm pretty happy with the current train lines but I don't use them everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Four years starting from when though! It would be fantastic and very needed. But very skeptical of anything spouted by the king on the hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibbs Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Good news as it needs to be done. Great for the airport (if they run services through the night) and also for the people out the other side that have to drive around the airport to get into the city. I use the train often and it's a great system. Crowded during rush hour, but a few more trains would sort that out. If they can get the northern loop and the southern loop in, it'd help remove a lot of traffic. http://31.media.tumblr.com/19823293624b65cdd69f72a4eec01461/tumblr_mrcogimM5t1qabqmso4_r1_1280.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Is there an election coming up? Highly unlikely with falling iron ore revenue. If anything they will need to start cutting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 Time will tell. I wouldn't say it is highly unlikely though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.