Minister Troy Buswell at the train’s delivery.
Camera IconMinister Troy Buswell at the train’s delivery. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

New era on way for rail commuters

Stephen Miles, Midland ReporterMidland Kalamunda Reporter

Transport Minister Troy Buswell was at the Midland Railway Workshops last Monday to take delivery of the first of 22 three-car trains on order for Transperth and designed to boost the capacity of its rail network.

Mr Buswell said each B-Series 80 train could carry 600 passengers, compared with about 400 in a two-car configuration.

The new carriages would initially be used on the Mandurah and Joondalup lines, where demand was greatest.

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Two-car carriages now on the Mandurah and Joondalup lines would be reallocated to the Midland, Fremantle and Armadale lines.

Mr Buswell said the three-car trains, built by EDI Rail-Bombardier in Queensland, were being commissioned at the Midland workshops.

The bogies were being changed from standard ” fitted for their trip across Australia ” to WA’s narrow gauge.

They would be safety tested before going to Transperth’s railcar depot at Nowergup to be fitted with seats and signage.

Mr Buswell said the arrival of the new three-car train marked the start of ‘a pivotal three-year period’ for the system, with the remaining 21 new three-car trains coming online every few months.

‘Over the next three years, these trains will flow onto the network, boosting capacity and gradually reducing overcrowding for passengers,’ he said.

The total cost of the new railcars is $243 million.