Train makes impact
It has carried more than 89.3 million passengers, offers more than 200 trips a day and clocks in as the overall busiest train line, so it’s fair to say the Mandurah rail line has been a resounding success.
The first train on the Mandurah line ran on December 23, 2007, after much controversy and after years of delays. But for Medina resident Carl Wilson, the service has been an invaluable addition to his neighbourhood.
Mr Wilson, who does not drive, uses the train to get to work in Perth and said his life was easier thanks to the train.
“If the train wasn’t here I’d riding my bike to work,” he said.
“Of course I’d like to have more trains on the line, but you’ve got to be happy with what you’ve got, don’t you?
“I’d just be stuck here if we didn’t have the train, I reckon it’s great.”
Is has not been an easy ride to positive favour for the line.
By the time the first train ran, the cost of building Mandurah line had blown out $250 million, with the final cost hitting $1.6 billion and the opening delayed by a year.
One of the rail line’s biggest champions was then planning and infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan, who fought to bring it to fruition.
On the inaugural journey on from Perth to Mandurah, Ms MacTiernan said it was vindication for those people who worked on the project and the people who would benefit from the train line.
The Mandurah line had its biggest milestone last year, notching 20 million total boardings in a single year.
Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the train line was an invaluable asset to the southern suburbs.
“As one of Australia’s fastest-growing outer metropolitan communities, it is essential that Kwinana residents are afforded the necessary infrastructure and services,” she said.
“Kwinana is fortunate that we can boast two residential train stations and urban development to support the patronage patterns. Without doubt, the major urban development occurring throughout our suburbs would not have been so successful if we did not have such ready access to modern, fast and convenient transport.”
