Forrestfield–Airport Link

The Forrestfield–Airport Link is a railway line currently under construction on the Transperth network in Perth, Western Australia. The line is intended to service Perth Airport and the Perth foothills with a terminus in High Wycombe.

Forrestfield–Airport Link
Airport Central railway station under construction, May 2020
Overview
TypeCommuter rail
SystemTransperth
StatusUnder construction
LocalePerth, Western Australia
TerminiBayswater
High Wycombe
Stations3
Websitewww.forrestfieldairportlink.wa.gov.au
Operation
Opened2021 (planned)
OwnerPublic Transport Authority
Operator(s)Transperth
Technical
Line length8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Route map
to Perth
 Bayswater
to Midland
Swan River
 Redcliffe
 Airport Central
 High Wycombe

History

In 2004, Perth Airport's twenty-year Master Plan proposed a rail link to connect with the Midland line between Bayswater and Ashfield stations at the Tonkin Highway. The rail link was proposed to continue above ground along Tonkin Highway to the Great Eastern Highway where it is believed it would go underground along Brearley Avenue and to the terminals in operation at completion of the line.[1]

In December 2013, the Government of Western Australia announced its intention to construct a railway line to Forrestfield via Perth Airport.[2] In August 2014, the scheme was endorsed by the Cabinet.[3][4][5]

In March 2015, it was announced five parties had lodged Expressions of Interest to build the line:[6]

A shortlist of Forrestfield Connect, JHL Joint Venture and SI-NRW Joint Venture was announced in April 2015.[8] In January 2016, the SI-NRW Joint Venture was named as the preferred tenderer. Construction on the project commenced on 3 November 2016.[9][10][11]

On 18 December 2018, WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announced that the project's opening has been delayed to mid-2021 due to the project's numerous problems, including a sinkhole, flooding, the boring machines moving slower than expected and two workplace incidents related to the project. Despite this, the project budget of $1.8 billion remains the same.[12]

Route

The 8.5-kilometre-long (5.3 mi) line will diverge from Transperth’s existing Midland line near Bayswater station and run in twin-bore tunnels, initially paralleling the Tonkin Highway, then run under the Swan River to reach Perth Airport. It continues in tunnels under the airport, before emerging to terminate at a new bus-rail interchange at High Wycombe.[4][5]

Stations

The line will have three stations:[4][5][13]

References
  1. "Public Transport Link Option, 2024 Masterplan, Perth Airport". Westrailia Airports Corporation. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  2. Treasurer Troy Buswell says airport link could be built entirely underground ABC News 19 December 2013
  3. Barnett, Colin; Nalder, Dean (9 August 2014). "8km Forrestfield-Airport Link tunnel revealed". Media Statements of the Government of Western Australia (Media statement). Western Australia: Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. "Perth airport rail link approved". Railway Gazette International. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  5. "Forrestfield-Airport Link" (PDF). Public Transport Authority (WA). August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  6. EOIs received for Forrestfield-Airport Link Government of Western Australia 18 March 2015
  7. Forrestfield-Airport Link EOI open Minister for Transport 29 January 2015
  8. Kakulas, Vetti (30 April 2015). "Perth Airport rail link: Firms short-listed for design, construction". Perth Now. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  9. Preferred respondent for new rail line announced Public Transport Authority 18 February 2016
  10. Forrestfield airport rail link to be built by Italian firm ABC News 18 February 2016
  11. Construction starts on Forrestfield-Airport link Government of Western Australia 18 November 2016
  12. "Perth Airport link delayed by one year after sinkhole". ABC News. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018. Mid 2020. After numerous attempts to change the name of the termini of the line has been confirmed to now be called High Wycombe Station; after its geographical location. The name change for the station has been tried to be changed since the projects announcement in 2017. “ https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/transport/forrestfield-station-to-be-renamed-high-wycombe-after-push-from-locals--c-1126918.amp”
  13. "Construction overview". Forrestfield-Airport Link. Public Transport Authority. 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  14. Corlett, Aaron (4 December 2017). "Redcliffe Station chosen as name of new station on Forrestfield-Airport line". Southern Gazette. Retrieved 8 December 2017.

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