The Mandurah Line has now re-opened following a successful 20-day shutdown to enable major works on the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
METRONET contractors worked day and night to re-open the Mandurah Line from first service today.
For 20 days in challenging heat, almost 500 personnel worked around the clock to lay more than 5 kilometres of new track, re-lay 7,500 concrete railway sleepers, and install new overhead line equipment, including 112 masts and 6 kilometres of wires for this section of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
With trains back up and running, train replacement bus services have ceased, with thousands of bus trips provided and approximately 140,000 passenger boardings recorded over the course of the shutdown.
Now the Mandurah Line track has been shifted, work continues to build the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
The next steps are to construct the new Thornlie Line in the centre of the passenger rail corridor between the Glen Iris Rail Tunnel and Cockburn Central Station.
Progress will continue on the construction of Ranford Road Bridge and the relocation of the Kewdale White Oil Line through Thornlie, Canning Vale and Jandakot to make way for the new train line.
Passengers boarding trains on the Mandurah Line are now reaping the benefits of the two-zone fare cap, which came into effect on January 1.
With savings of up to $6.40 on a single journey with a SmartRider from Mandurah Station, Perth's busiest train line is now more affordable for passengers.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The biggest public transport shutdown on the Mandurah Line is now over thanks to the hard work of METRONET's contractors, and I would like to thank them for getting the job done in extreme weather conditions.
"Thank you to our residents and passengers for your patience and everyone who has been involved in continuing to provide a public transport service during the shutdown in often challenging conditions, including the hundreds of bus drivers drafted in to support the train replacement effort.
"The Thornlie-Cockburn Link is already supporting jobs, and once complete, it will encourage further job growth and development, ease congestion and create a greater transport connection to Optus Stadium.
"On January 1, we also delivered a major election commitment - the two-zone fare cap - making our train lines more affordable for more passengers and potentially saving them thousands of dollars per year."
