By Augustina Onyegbula
The long-awaited Armadale rail line is set to reopen for the community on Monday, October 13, as announced by the Western Australian (WA) Government.
This announcement made on Monday, July 23 comes as the Byford rail extensions enter its critical phase, with testing and commissioning as well as driver training underway.
This major milestone comes after 18 months of ongoing construction within the area, which included the Byford extension with a brand-new train station, offering 400 parking bays with a 46-minute journey to Perth city.
The new elevated train station in Armadale city centre will also provide about 200 parking bays to the community.
Other benefits that are involved in this project include the removal of seven level crossings and two new road over rail bridges at Thomas Road and Eleventh Road, offering new public spaces and shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists around the rail line elevation.
The project, which is jointly funded by the Federal Government and the WA Government, has employed more than 4,000 workers to complete the developments.
As soon as the Armadale line reopens, passengers will continue to benefit from the two-zone cap currently in place.
From January 1, 2026, passengers will be paying no more than $2.80 for a zone cap fare when using the autoload Smart Rider. This measure is put in place to make transportation more affordable for commuters.
Transport minister Rita Saffioti thanked the community for their patience for the past 18 months.
“This transformative infrastructure project will benefit future generations, unlock new opportunities for development, and make Perth more accessible by public transport,” she said.
“METRONET is transforming Perth’s public transport and making our city more connected than ever.
“The reopening of the Armadale Line marks one of the most significant milestones in this transformation.”
Member for Burt, Matt Keogh said he was excited to see the completed project.
“It is exciting to see that the METRONET Byford Rail Extension is almost all aboard for passengers travelling south of Perth, with significant upgrades and the removal of seven level crossings,” he said.
“Train passengers throughout my community, from Kenwick through to Byford, will be looking forward to be able to start catching trains again from October.”
Member for Darling Range Hugh Jones said he was happy to see the progress in construction.
“It’s been incredible to see the progress being made on the new METRONET Byford Station, and now the community has a date for when it will open,” he said.
“This is an exciting moment for our community, and the countdown is now well and truly on until we unveil the new Byford Station.”
While the community is anticipating the grand reopening of the rail line, member for Armadale and Attorney General Tony Buti said he appreciates the community’s understanding surrounding the opening delays.
“The new METRONET Armadale Station is completely transforming our suburb, and I know today’s announcement will be met with excitement from the community,” he said.
