From Rail Express, 30.4.18......
“That’s an innovation of my government because before I was prime minister, federal governments basically didn’t get involved in urban rail. I think it’s very important that we do.”
$500 million of the newly-announced funding will go towards building the $1 billion Morley-Ellenbrook Line. $241 million will help fund the $481 million extension of the Armadale Line to Byford, and $83 million will fund just over half of the Midland Station relocation. All three projects are still listed as being in their preliminary planning phases by the WA Government.
A further $2 million in federal money will fund a business case for a railway station at Lakelands, while $226 million in additional federal funding will “support other Metronet related projects”.
“This significant infrastructure package will provide a major boost to WA’s local economy, with many thousands of jobs expected to be created during construction,” Turnbull said.
Speaking on the radio, the PM praised the work of Curtin University professor of sustainability Peter Newman, saying Newman had a “big brain,” and had helped promote Perth as a leading city for passenger rail.
“You know what Western Australia has done a fantastic job on metro rail. Led the way at a time when other states were doing nothing. It’s actually got on with it,” Turnbull said.
“But you’ve obviously got to do it on the right terms and as Peter Newman says – you’ve got to look at the rail development with the eye of maximising the amenity, the liveability, the potential for transit-based development and so forth instead of just doing what a lot of transport engineers have done in years past – just finding the best alignment between a and b.”
END
Perth, Turnbull, & federal policy changes
Re: Perth, Turnbull, & federal policy changes
Funding of urban public transport projects was one of the drivers behind Turnbull overthrowing Abbot. He did talk about it for some time prior. In terms of the self-promotion though, he's not quite right about it not being done before. A couple of Labor governments were doing it too over previous decades.
I would say that the Ellenbrook line is an example for finding a route from A to B (via motorways!), as the alternative of going underground through existing development in order to directly connect significant centres is far too expensive. There's actually a large amount of this type of expediency in Perth's new rail developments, but they've made it work very well with seamless and quick interchange between rail and an excellent bus system and park-an-ride.
I would say that the Ellenbrook line is an example for finding a route from A to B (via motorways!), as the alternative of going underground through existing development in order to directly connect significant centres is far too expensive. There's actually a large amount of this type of expediency in Perth's new rail developments, but they've made it work very well with seamless and quick interchange between rail and an excellent bus system and park-an-ride.
Re: Perth, Turnbull, & federal policy changes
Even the odd Liberal government here and there. The Cranbourne extension was courtesy of the Kennett government (at the partial expense of the 86 tram extension and with Federal funding) and it would be fair to credit them with saving the Upfield line by modernising it instead of converting it to light rail.In terms of the self-promotion though, he's not quite right about it not being done before. A couple of Labor governments were doing it too over previous decades.
Re: Perth, Turnbull, & federal policy changes
And the Upfield line carries quite respectable loadings these days,krustyklo.Not full on like most of the other lines-but still good.
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Re: Perth, Turnbull, & federal policy changes
Strange there is no mention of the Thornlie to Cockburn link, as locally this has bipartisan support and seemed likely to be the next rail undertaking following the Forrestfield Airport Link.
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Re: Perth, Turnbull, & federal policy changes
Pretty sure there was already federal funding allocated to Thornlie Cockburn Link from PFL redistribution?