The Railway (METRONET) Amendment Bill 2019 has been passed by both houses of state parliament in Western Australia. The bill authorises construction of the rail infrastructure which will halve the public transport journey time for passengers travelling between Ellenbrook and the CBD.
The planned 21km rail line from Morley to Ellenbrook is on track, with the project starting in late 2019.
The next step is for the Bill to be sent for royal assent by Governor Kim Beazley.
Thousands of local jobs will be created over the life of the project, with early works already under way as part of the major redevelopment of Bayswater Station.
WA Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said, “We have also been working with local companies so they are prepared to leverage opportunities and maximise local jobs that come with building METRONET.
“The enabling legislation passing shows that the Parliament acknowledges the importance of rail and serving the north-east corridor with first-class public transport.”
A Request for Proposal for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line’s main works contract went out to market last month, the biggest of four works packages that will deliver the project.
Along with the main works contract, the Morley-Ellenbrook Line is also being delivered through the Bayswater Station upgrade, Tonkin Gap project and forward works contracts.
The Morley-Ellenbrook Line will take passengers from Ellenbrook’s growing town centre and surrounding communities, along Drumpellier Drive (formerly New Lord Street), through land north of Marshall Road before running down the middle of Tonkin Highway and connecting to the Midland Line at Bayswater.
Stations will be built at Ellenbrook, Whiteman Park, Malaga, Noranda and Morley, with allowance for a future station at Bennett Springs East also in the design.
