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Early departure time

Staff ReporterNorth Coast Times

Transport Minister Dean Nalder last weekend announced the opening date, September 21, for the 7.5km rail extension, saying it would provide an important transport link.

‘The extension will be open three months ahead of schedule, in time for school holidays and the Royal Show,’ Mr Nalder said.

‘On an average weekday, we expect about 2000 people to use the station to commute to work in the city or in other centres like Joondalup or even Mandurah.

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‘We are already starting to see signs of development at Butler as the suburb expands around the station.

‘Soon local shopping centres and other infrastructure will pop up too.

‘The station will provide an important service to residents of this booming northern suburb, and will take pressure off existing facilities at Clarkson station and the Mitchell Freeway.’

Having budgeted $241 million for the project when construction started in early 2011, the State Government has reported it will be delivered about $20 million under budget.

Three weeks before passengers can buy tickets, two Butler families could be the first to board trains at the Butler station. The Public Transport Authority is running a colouring-in competition for families to have an early ride during the driver training phase.

East Butler Primary School included the competition in its newsletter last week, asking its students to submit their completed pictures before tomorrow to have a chance to ride on the August 30 trial train.

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