❓ Mrs Hodson-Thomas questions the Minister about the Armadale line upgrade after the Southern Rail Link redirection. The Minister defends the decision, stating it reduces Armadale line pressure and the need for extensive upgrades, including grade separations.
AnsweredQoN 221Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTHERN RAIL LINK, ARMADALE LINE UPGRADE 221. Mrs HODSON-THOMAS to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure: Given the Government’s hasty decision to redirect the southern rail link along the Kwinana Freeway, has it now abandoned the planned upgrade of the Armadale line, including the much needed grade separation of level crossings between Perth and Kenwick? Ms MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
SOUTHERN RAIL LINK, ARMADALE LINE UPGRADE
Given the Government’s hasty decision to redirect the southern rail link along the Kwinana Freeway, has it now abandoned the planned upgrade of the Armadale line, including the much needed grade separation of level crossings between Perth and Kenwick? Ms MacTIERNAN replied: The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Government members: Hear, hear!
SOUTHERN RAIL LINK, ARMADALE LINE UPGRADE
Given the Government’s hasty decision to redirect the southern rail link along the Kwinana Freeway, has it now abandoned the planned upgrade of the Armadale line, including the much needed grade separation of level crossings between Perth and Kenwick? Ms MacTIERNAN replied: The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
The decision was not hasty. It was made after five months of careful consideration. It is true that we were not like the previous Government. The previous Government made the decision in July 1995 and waited for two years before it started the master plan in June 1997. We proceeded immediately to the master plan phase. Nevertheless, the decision was well considered and was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in this community. The Opposition is becoming increasingly isolated in its ridiculous attachment to this lemon of a proposal that it drew up when in government. The demand on the Armadale line will be greatly reduced. Instead of attempting to schedule 20 trains each hour on the Armadale line during peak periods, the maximum requirement will now be four trains each hour. That will mean that considerably less work will be required on the Kenwick-Perth portion of the Armadale link. Some grade separations will still go ahead, but not all. Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Mr Barnett: Oh, okay. Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Ms MacTIERNAN: There is no doubt about that. There is no great secret. The Government put this clearly to the Town of Victoria Park. I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
I use this time as an opportunity to explain one of the many reasons the Kenwick option was a complete lemon. It required the scheduling of 20 trains each hour between Kenwick and Perth on a single track system. Those trains travel at two speeds - one group at 130 kilometres an hour and the other at 110 kilometres an hour. There were going to be three stopping patterns. With a three-minute headway, it would have been almost impossible to set up a timetable to deliver that. The Government has reduced the pressure on the Armadale line. Consequently, it has been able to reduce the amount of works required on that line. I can tell members that the people of Victoria Park are happy about that. They were not keen about the elevated line. They understood that it was not possible to have a tunnel. Government members: Hear, hear!
Government members: Hear, hear!
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