Morley–Ellenbrook line
Future railway in Perth, Western Australia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Morley–Ellenbrook line is an under construction suburban railway line and service in Perth, Western Australia, which will be operated by the Public Transport Authority as part of the Transperth system. The line diverges from the Airport and Midland lines at Bayswater station and heads north-north-west to serve five new stations along a 21.3-kilometre-long (13.2 mi) branch to Ellenbrook. Morley–Ellenbrook line services will continue west of Bayswater station to terminate at Perth station in the central business district.
Morley–Ellenbrook line | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Status | Under construction |
Owner | Public Transport Authority |
Locale | Perth, Western Australia |
Termini |
|
Stations | 5 (branch) 13 (total) |
Service | |
Type | Suburban rail |
System | Transperth |
Operator(s) | Public Transport Authority |
Depot(s) | Claisebrook railcar depot |
Rolling stock | Transperth B-series trains |
History | |
Commenced | January 2022 (January 2022) |
Planned opening | Late 2024 (2024) |
Technical | |
Line length | 21.3 km (13.2 mi) (branch) |
Number of tracks | 2 |
Character | At-grade and elevated |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge |
Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary |
Operating speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
Signalling | Fixed block signalling |
Train protection system | Automatic train protection |
The Morley–Ellenbrook line diverges from the Airport and Midland lines at Bayswater station, where it enters a viaduct to pass over those lines' eastbound track and several roads before entering the median strip of Tonkin Highway through a tunnel. The line heads north from there, stopping at Morley and Noranda stations, before exiting the highway through another tunnel to reach Malaga station. The Morley–Ellenbrook line then runs east along the southern side of Whiteman Park before bending north to head between Whiteman Park and Drumpellier Drive to reach Whiteman Park station. North from there, the line enters Ellenbrook to terminate at Ellenbrook station.
Land for a railway line to Ellenbrook was reserved in the 1990s during the first stages of the development of Ellenbrook as a "master planned community". The line was promised by both major political parties in the leadup to the 2008 state election, but it was soon cancelled by the Liberal government after winning the election. After the Labor Party won the 2017 state election, the Morley–Ellenbrook line began planning as part of the wider Metronet project. Enabling works within the Tonkin Highway median strip were undertaken by the Tonkin Gap project, which started construction in November 2020 and was completed in early 2024. The main Morley–Ellenbrook line contract was awarded to Laing O'Rourke in October 2020 and construction began in January 2022. The main contract's original budget was $1.123 billion, which was increased in 2023 to $1.651 billion. In March 2024, the first station was completed. The line is currently planned to open in late 2024.
The Morley–Ellenbrook line is planned to have a frequency of five trains per hour during peak, reducing to four trains per hour off peak, operated by Transperth B-series trains. Peak frequencies are planned to increase to six trains per hour by 2031, which will require upgrades to signalling to accommodate the Morley–Ellenbrook line alongside Airport and Midland line services. All stations along the branch are fully accessible and have 150-metre-long (490 ft) platforms, but train lengths are limited by 100-metre (330 ft) platforms between Perth and Bayswater. The branch is forecast to have 11,753 boardings per weekday upon opening, increasing to 18,070 boardings per weekday in 2031.