Ellenbrook line records millions of boardings in first year of operation
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti hailed the first year of the $1.65 billion Morley to Ellenbrook line as a huge success, revealing 3.2 million train journeys were made on the network in the first 11 months since it opened on December 8 last year.
The latest available patronage figures show October recorded its highest number of boardings at 340,000, compared to 198,000 in the first month of operation. November patronage figures will be released later this week.
As of October, Ellenbrook Station recorded an average of 2,108 boardings each weekday, making it one of the busiest stations on the network.
Evaluating the first year of its activities, Saffioti said: WAtoday And Nine News Perth He said not delivering the project was never an option.
“It’s really about the pride of delivering what we said we would do and knowing that I delivered,” he said.
“This was a very important issue for people in the area. And for me, too.” [about] Making sure I can stand tall in society knowing that I have fulfilled our commitment and not let them down.
“If we hadn’t delivered it, I don’t think I would ever be able to walk the streets of Ellenbrook again because I would be so embarrassed.”
The line from Morley to Ellenbrook has a storied political history after being closed by the former Barnett Government and suffering a $550 million cost overrun during Labor’s pursuit.
Metronet’s cost blowouts have been skillfully used by the opposition to criticize Labour’s spending priorities and are regularly raised in parliament.
Earlier this week, shadow treasurer Sandra Brewer again mocked the state for pouring so much money into Metronet.
“Where did the money go? We know what happened; it went to the Metronet explosions,” he said.
Saffioti remains defiant, saying his government has delivered large amounts of rail infrastructure to the east at a much lower price than when it was delivered.
“I challenge everyone to get a project across the country that provides better value for money,” he said.
“The (Melbourne Metro Tunnel) project itself cost about $15 billion, so for $10.6 billion we built an entire Metronet, 23 stations, 72 kilometers of rail line, removal of 15 level crossings.
“(The Morley to Ellenbrook line in particular) is very good value for money – 21 kilometres, five new stations.”
The new stations are Ellenbrook, Whiteman Park, Ballajura, Noranda and Morley.
The line has halved the time it takes for Ellenbrook residents to get to Perth CBD from an hour by car to 30 minutes by train.
Saffioti said the line is changing the way people move around the city’s northeast corridor while also connecting young people with educational opportunities.
“I was talking to a few young students from Ballajura Primary School who were going into Perth Modern and one of the things they said to me was… that the train line would now allow them to go to Perth Modern because of the connections,” he said.
Swan City councilor and Ellenbrook Community Collective secretary Cate McCullough said the line also opened up the suburban hub to the rest of Perth.
McCullough is holding Christmas at the ‘Elfenbrook’ festival this Saturday and was expecting a large group of an estimated 25,000 people to arrive from out of town by train.
The rail line also had an impact on average house prices in Ellenbrook; Real Estate Institute of WA statistics show the average house price rose from $505,000 in 2023 to $730,000 this year.
The suburb’s five-year growth rate outpaced Perth’s average growth rate by 4 per cent.
Despite the strong start, the Ellenbrook line will need to double weekday ridership to reach the 18,000 the state is predicted to reach by 2031.
To enforce this increased patronage, the government established special planning zones around Ellenbrook line stations, where government-supported tenement buildings were to be built.
These will result in thousands of people moving within meters of train stations, Saffioti said.
Construction of 100 flats at Ballajura station will start in mid-2026, while the 197-flat complex opposite Ellenbrook will start construction within a few months.
Saffioti hoped to build four apartment complexes near Ballajura station by 2030.
Ballajura and Morley stations have been included in a list of 10 priority station precincts controlled by the WA government across Perth to pave the way for higher density development.
The policy was met with significant backlash from Western Suburbs councils, who were angry that the government was taking planning control away from local people.
Saffioti acknowledged that the Ellenbrook line areas have more positive prospects.
“There’s not a lot of people living in close proximity, so you don’t have the normal kind of community issues, and secondly, the blocks are identified and ready to be built on,” he said.
Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political correspondent and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Award for best political journalism.Connect with: excitement or email.
