The investment in Australind trains seeks to solve issues of reliability and frequency. Image: Bahnfrend.
The Western Australia Government is investing $80 million in the Bunbury and Peel regions by purchasing two Australind trains to increase train frequency.
The investment was allocated in the mid-year review and will include the addition of two three-car railcars, which are set to make current and future services more reliable and more frequent.
The rapid population growth of the Peel and Bunbury regions has been cited as the rationale behind the investment, which would enable easier and more reliable travel between Pinjarra, Waroona, Harvey and Perth.
“The Bunbury and Peel region is growing strongly, and with that growth projected to continue, this is an opportune moment for us to secure the future of the Australind service,” Premier Roger Cook said.
The initiative also seeks to boost tourism in the regions by making daytrips from Perth to towns in the South West more feasible.
“This investment will not only add to the reliability of the Australind service, it gives us significant scope to increase services in the future, giving residents in Peel and Bunbury more flexible travel options to and from Perth,” Mr Cook added.
Older Australind services had reliability issues and ageing trains were regularly plagued by maintenance issues.
“The previous Australind service had critical issues with reliability, and these new trains will help to address that, as well as support an increase in services in the future,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
“With new Australind trains being built, this was an opportune moment to secure the future of this service and meet the growing need for more transport options into our South West region,” Saffioti said.
The government has scheduled the commencement of the new train service with the reopening of the Armadale train line.
