After 16 years and never-ending promises, we finally know when the Ellenbrook train line will open

The long-awaited Ellenbrook train line, first promised to residents in Perth’s north-eastern corridor in 2008, will finally open to the public on December 8 – 16 years later.

The new 21 kilometres of rail will cut the time it takes to commute from Ellenbrook to the CBD from one hour by car to 30 minutes by rail, with stations in Morley, Noranda, Ballajura, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook.

Premier Roger Cook said his government, elected in 2017, started the project from scratch despite the Liberal government infamously promising the rail line in 2008 and again in 2013.

During that time, the suburb’s population has more than doubled to 25,000 with the population in the area being among the fastest growing in the state, and the most car-dependent.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the final cost of the line was $1.65 billion, with the Federal government listing it on its national priority infrastructure list and contributing $700,000 in 2017.

The state government initially budgeted $1.1 billion for the line, and said it would be open in 2022-23, marking a two-year delay.

This line has survived a global pandemic and two Liberal governments

Premier Roger Cook

Cook, in a press conference on Monday announcing the opening date for the line, said fares would be capped at around $4 a trip, with school students and Sunday commuters travelling for free.

“It’s been a long time coming for these communities, and we want to thank them for their patience,” he said.

“This line has survived a global pandemic and two Liberal governments … the Liberals took everyone living along this line for chumps, treated them like fools and lied and simply walked away from this particular project.

“Only WA Labor can be trusted with developing our public transport and making sure it’s affordable.”

Patronage data estimates 3000 people will board the train at Ballajura station each day, which is comparable to boardings on the Yanchep line.

Saffioti said she wasn’t sure if former WA Premier Colin Barnett, whose government first promised the line, would be invited to the opening event as he was for the opening of Optus Stadium back in 2018.

“I haven’t gone through the invite list … I don’t know who we’re going to invite,” she said.

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