The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) has commissioned Perth’s Forrestfield-Airport link.
Tunnelling for the project was completed in April 2020, followed closely by the start of tracklaying in July of the same year.
The link’s opening date was announced this summer.
Perth’s first rail line to the city’s airport, the Forrestfield-Airport link has three stations and is expected to support more than 20,000 passenger journeys in its first year.
This new line will now enable people to travel between Perth’s airport, its suburbs and the city centre in less than 20 minutes.
Hitachi Rail Australia provided the signalling and telecommunications system for the new eight-kilometre rail line. The MicroLok interlocking signalling technology enables services to run every 12 minutes during peak hours by reducing headway.
The link will also benefit from access for all mobile service providers, as well as a new 4G train communications system.
“The Forrestfield Airport link tackles modern urbanisation issues head on.
“It opens up Perth’s growing eastern suburbs to rail for the first time – and is part of the WA Government’s effort to create thriving urban centres with safe, sustainable, affordable transport at their heart.
“Our signalling solution will support a seamless, fast and reliable service for passengers.”
Hitachi’s system was provided under the Webuild–NRW Joint Venture; the project’s design, construction and maintenance contractor.
This is part of the first stage of METRONET: a multi-government programme in Western Australia to create liveable communities connected by world-class public transport.
