METRONET Latest Updates

Community Notice

With the planned shutdown of the Armadale line slated for 20 November, construction impacts are expected to grow for our community, both in the lead-up to, and throughout the shutdown itself. 

METRONET has advised that impacts along the rail line are likely to include: 

• Higher traffic volumes
• Heavy vehicle movements
• Increased noise
• Dust
• Vibrations
• Single-lane road closures and diversions
• Some night-time works

The Town remains committed to working with METRONET and relevant agencies to mitigate these impacts where possible, and is in regular contact with METRONET on these matters. However, it is important to note that this is a State Government project and ultimately the Town is limited in its capacity to address related concerns from our residents.

This being the case, any queries or concerns should be directed to METRONET via the channels below. 

Who to contact

Below you will find information and updates on ongoing works related to METRONET. If you have queries regarding any of the information, please contact METRONET directly

METRONET project contacts are available on:

• 9326 3666 (24/7 line)

For more information, visit METRONET's project webpage here.

Shutdown

The bulk of works on the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal project will coincide with a shutdown of the Armadale line for up to 18 months from 20 November 2023.

During the shutdown, the line will continue to operate between Victoria Park Station and the CBD, including Stadium Station.

NOTE: The full line, including these stops, will be shutdown from 20-23 November to allow enabling works for trains to turn around at Victoria Park Station. 

More than 100 additional buses will be used as replacement services during the shutdown. Click here for a map of the new bus routes. For more information on replacement services, visit the Transperth website. 

During the closure, 5.5 kilometres of elevated rail will be built, along with seven new stations, and the extension of the line to Byford.

The METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link will also be completed during the shutdown – delivering two new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road while providing the first east-west rail link connecting the Armadale and Mandurah lines.

For further information on the shutdown, visit Building For Tomorrow. You can also view a recorded online webinar explaining the methodology being used and what the community can expect during the construction phase of the project via the video below.

For a map showing alternative means of getting around during the shutdown, click here. 

Parking during the shutdown

In order to facilitate the movement of heavy vehicles, parking will be unavailable along Bank Street between Welshpool Road and Mint Street throughout construction, and increased parking restrictions are now in place around access gates. Clearway zones will be active in the area from 8pm-5am Sunday to Thursday till May 2024. Read the notice.

Property pre-condition surveys

The State Government is offering free property condition surveys for all property owners within 100m of the rail line (properties within the yellow lines marked on the maps below may be eligible) as part of the METRONET Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project.

McDonald Surveys will conduct the survey to document your property's pre-construction condition as the project prepares for major works to begin later this year. If you haven't received a letter or need to make a survey booking, contact McDonald Surveys at 08 9353 6140.

The Town provides this information on behalf of METRONET.

Bus Interchange

Works have been completed on a temporary bus interchange at Victoria Park Station.

The completed interchange replaces normal operation of the rail line during the scheduled shutdown (see information further above).

Priority bus lanes 

In addition to the temporary bus interchanges above, METRONET has now installed ~1.2km of bus priority lanes on Welshpool and Shepperton roads, and Albany Highway. 

Modifications have been made affecting turning in and out of Welshpool Road at Norman and Forward streets, and changes to turning lanes at the Shepperton Road/Welshpool Road/Albany Highway intersection.

Right-turn vehicle movements on Albany Highway and Shepperton Road have been restricted to improve traffic flow, and a signalised predestrian crossing has been installed north of Sommerset Street for pedestrians and walkers as per the map below. 

Stations and surrounding public space

With the stations and related infrastructure fixed, the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance is in the midst of construction works. 

New elevated stations will be built at Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park and Cannington to enable safer and improved rail connections to schools and businesses.

Early design work for the stations and related infrastructure has been shaped by stakeholder and community feedback, and includes:

• Single elevated rail structures to minimise visual clutter and street-level impacts, and maximise public open space and landscaping.
• Relocation of Carlisle Station entrance closer to Mint/Archer Street to improve local connections.
• Station entrances on either side of Oats Street for easy and safe access to the station and new bus interchange.
• A ground-level principal shared path along the rail line for easy access to stations and surrounding areas.
• Maintaining existing parking at all stations. Parking at Welshpool Station will be redistributed between neighbouring stations.
• Dedicated areas of activity in the public open space, with a strong emphasis on native planting.

Work on these and other projects along the Armadale line is already underway.

For details on the new stations, check out the fact sheets below.

Carlisle Station Public Space Fact Sheet

Oats St Station Public Space Fact Sheet

Development application

The development application related to the construction of the proposed Carlisle and Oats Street Stations, as well as landscaping for the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal project was considered and approved by The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) in February 2023.

To review the application material, visit the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage's consultation website here.

NOTE: Whilst the Town received lodgement of the development application, it was not the determining authority. The Town provided recommendations to WAPC, which made the final decision. Negotiations between the Town and the State are ongoing concerning responsibility for matters such as ongoing maintenance of the public realm areas post completion. 

Trees

METRONET has advised that removal of some existing vegetation along the rail corridor is unavoidable to allow works to go ahead, but that it aims to retain as many trees as possible during works and achieve a 20% increase on current levels of canopy cover in the project area upon completion.

Local, native flora species will be used to support biodiversity, provide habitat for native fauna and minimise water use. 

Tree selection will be informed by the audit of existing trees undertaken in 2022, with black cockatoos to be discouraged from nesting within the corridor to minimise risk of conflict with trains.

For more information, see METRONET's Tree Fact sheet or visit its news section. 

Oats Street Station works and closures

With Stage 1 works on the new Oats St Station scheduled to conclude in November 2024 (See the METRONET website for more details) METRONET is now planning for major utility relocation works and construction of the final Oats Street intersection design. These works will follow the current stage 1 detours, with continued traffic management until March 2025.

Submissions may be lodged in writing to the project team by email (alucommunications@alualliance.com.au) or by post (Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance, 71 Ewing Street, Bentley, WA, 6102). The deadline for submissions is 5pm, Monday 7 October 2024.

Proposed Oats Street Detour (stage 2)

Stage 2 works are scheduled from Monday 14 October 2024 to January 2025.

The proposed works during stage 2 will impact:

• Oats Street between Rutland Avenue and Bank Street
• Rutland Avenue at the intersection of Oats Street
• Tuckett Street at the intersection of Oats Street
• Bank Street north of Milford Street.

Temporary modifications will be made to Tuckett Street to allow for two-way local traffic during stage 2 works.

Proposed Oats Street Detour (stage 3)

Stage 3 works are scheduled from January to March 2025.

The proposed works during stage 3 will impact: 

• Oats Street between Rutland Avenue and Bank Street
• Rutland Avenue at the intersection of Oats Street and Cohn Street
• Cohn Street at the intersection of Rutland Avenue
• Bank Street at the intersection of Oats Street.

The proposed Oats Street arrangement from March 2025 can be seen below:

Western Power works

As part of removing the level crossings, Western Power’s overhead transmission lines will be moved out of the rail corridor to make room for future works and the elevated rail infrastructure.

This will be delivered in two stages: 

Stage One - underground transmission power and remove 10 large lattice towers north of Oats Street. These are the high voltage power lines on steel towers and steel poles. 

Stage Two - options are being considered to consolidate transmission lines south of Oats Street Station, which may impact some distribution assets. Design work is currently underway.

Read more on the Western Power Fact Sheet.

Power line relocation

Underground cabling has been installed along Beatty Avenue, Swansea, Withnell and Somerset streets in East Victoria Park.

Works have included:

• fencing off a section of John Bissett Park for use as a laydown area
• removing the road surface
• digging trenches
• installing cabling
• resurfacing the road.