Train claim hits red light

Labor leader Mark McGowan pointed yesterday to the Joondalup and Mandurah train lines getting "tens of thousands of cars" off roads as evidence of why his Metronet would solve Perth's congestion crisis.

But the claim was challenged by public transport researcher Diana Ryan, who said studies showed that within six months of the Mandurah line opening the same number of cars were back on the road.

With the RAC again putting congestion in the election spotlight with a study highlighting Perth's worsening gridlock, Mr McGowan said Metronet "needs to happen".

"There's going to be an additional million cars on the roads within eight to 10 years," he said.

"We heard today the congestion crisis has never been worse. Metronet is needed to solve those long-term problems for Perth."

Asked what modelling Labor had done to support its claim that Metronet would alleviate congestion, Mr McGowan suggested "the best modelling" was the impact of the Joondalup and Mandurah lines.

"That took tens of thousands of cars, if not hundreds of thousands of cars, off the roads," he said.

Ms Ryan said: "You can't build your way out of congestion."

She said congestion banked up until people left the road, only for them to return when the roads were freed up.

Ms Ryan said the Joondalup and Mandurah train lines were built into freeway corridors. Labor's northern circle line between Joondalup and a new Ellenbrook line would need "many railway crossings" that would hold back cars.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said investment in roads, rail and buses was needed.

He said Labor had not given any evidence of how many passengers would use Metronet.

Mr Buswell said the expected patronage on the Liberals' proposed MAX light rail line from Mirrabooka to the CBD was 25,000 people a day by 2020 - the equivalent of the Midland train line.