Planning underway on Airport Line connecting bus and train services

• New bus routes to add 1.7 million annual service kilometres to the Transperth network
• Airport Line train frequency confirmed with consultation on bus routes opening soon
• Increased capacity with five trains (three-car sets) added to network, creating an additional 20,000 trips each day

Planning is well underway for the integration of the Airport Line to the public transport network, adding new bus routes and increased train capacity.

The new train line will add an additional five trains (three-car sets) to the network, meaning an additional 20,000 passenger trips can be made each day.

The Airport Line will be supported by an enhanced bus network, connecting surrounding suburbs to the new train stations, adding an additional 26 new buses to the network as well as 1.7 million annual bus service kilometres to the Transperth network.

Consultation with local government authorities and the community on the proposed new bus routes will launch next month.

Trains on the Airport Line, travelling between High Wycombe Station and Perth, will operate on a 12-minute frequency during peak periods and a 15-minute frequency off peak.

The first weekday service will depart Perth Station at 5.12am, arriving at Airport Central Station at 5.30am.

Based on weekday pre-COVID flight data, trains will meet at least 80 to 85 per cent of flights in and out of Perth Airport.

The State Government will continue to monitor the level of flights serviced to ensure the train line operations schedule is meeting the needs of passengers.

An overnight period needs to be kept free for regular maintenance of train lines.

Service frequency changes will also be made to trains running on the Fremantle and Midland lines:

• there will be services every six minutes during peak periods from stations between Bayswater to Perth and Claremont to Perth; and
• there will be services every 12 minutes during peak periods from Fremantle to Swanbourne, and Midland to Ashfield.

The new timetable will reduce peak period crowding along the busier inner-city stations between Claremont and Bayswater, similar to the approach taken for stations between Whitfords and Cockburn Central on the Joondalup and Mandurah lines.

There will be no change in current train journey times.

The McGowan Government is working to introduce High Capacity Signalling across the network, a 10-year project that will upgrade existing signalling and control systems, and allow more trains to run more often.

A new bus network will be introduced to service the local areas around Redcliffe and High Wycombe stations, including the Perth Hills, with new routes added and some existing routes changed.

The community is invited to provide feedback on the proposed bus routes, with consultation to open in mid-October. 

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"The Forrestfield-Airport Link, which will be known as the Airport Line when it opens, will provide a new transport option for eastern suburbs commuters.

"It will add an additional five trains to the network, meaning thousands of additional passengers can be moved each day.

"Passengers will be able to catch a train every 12 minutes during peak hour, with the first train to arrive at Airport Central at 5.30am and services operating until after midnight.

"This means some changes to the frequency of the Fremantle and Midland line trains during peak hour. 

"From next month we will be opening community consultation up on the bus network which will link the local community to the three train stations.

"I encourage everyone in the local community to have their say on the bus routes and services they would like to see." 

Minister's office - 6552 5500