On Thursday the Western Australian Government released its 2024-25 Budget, which included a total of $11.8 billion of transport related transport infrastructure projects over the next four years.
The key highlight for rail was an additional $254 million investment in the transformative METRONET project. It is expected that the Yanchep Rail Extension and the Morley-Ellenbrook Line will be completed this year, with a further three major rail projects expected to be delivered in 2025.
Completion of these five major METRONET rail projects will see the delivery of:
- 17 new train stations;
- 61.5 kilometres of new tracks;
- 5.5 kilometres of new elevated rail;
- six hectares of new public open space; and
- the first east-west connecting rail between the Mandurah and Armadale Lines.
Also of relevance to rail is the investment of $116 million for Westport, including for early marine, civil and road works to transition container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana, unlocking future trade opportunities and economic capacity. This is in addition to the Federal Government earlier this week pledging an additional $33.5 million towards the development of Westport as part of their 2024-25 Budget.
The Westport project is the linchpin for future trade growth in Western Australia. It includes planning a new port and the connected road, rail and logistics operations required to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana.