This was published 5 months ago
Whiteman Park tramway to link up with Morley to Ellenbrook train line
Light rail has finally come to Perth, but it’s using 80-year-old technology and the tracks will be built by TAFE students using scrap from other Metronet projects.
Whiteman Park’s popular heritage electric tram line will be extended to the new Whiteman Park train station on the Morley to Ellenbrook line giving visitors direct access to the park when the Metronet project opens later this year.
The new tramway will include 1.3 kilometres of new tracks made up of 3900 rail sleepers and 3000 tonnes of ballast.
Whiteman Park’s electric tramway will be extended to the new train station.Credit: Whiteman Park/Facebook
However, this will be made of 85 per cent recycled materials donated by businesses working on Metronet projects to keep costs low.
The state government has committed $1 million to the project and North Metro TAFE students will work on the project as part of their studies.
The new tram platform will be built just south of the station and will link to the existing track in the park.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the tram extension was expected to be operational as the Morley-Ellenbrook line opens later this year.
“It will change the visitor experience,” she said.
“People and families can catch the train to Whiteman Park and then get on board the tram into Whiteman Park proper.”
Saffioti said the first tram to run on the track would be the last tram that ran in 1958 on the old Inglewood electric tram line.
“It’s a number 66 tram and that number will be used for the tram for the first trip between this station and into the village proper,” she said.
The Perth Electric Tramway Society operates the Whiteman Park tram network.
The society’s Ray Blackmore was ecstatic at the news and said it would help keep the state’s tram heritage operational.
“This is unique to see where our heritage came from and we’ve got to keep it moving, a lot of the stuff we are restoring is more than 100 years old,” he said.
Travel on the tram will be free for the first year of its operation.