More than 18 months of disruption is coming to an end for some commuters as Perth's first east-west rail connection opens this week to service communities from Mandurah to Armadale.
The Thornlie-Cockburn link and adjacent rail elevation are part of WA Labor's flagship infrastructure project Metronet.
Commuters test out the new Thornlie-Cockburn train line. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
The developments, in Perth's south east, feature a $1.3 billion rail extension with two new stations connecting Thornlie to Cockburn Central, and a $1.6 billion elevation of five stations and rail from Carlisle to Beckenham.
The elevation is hoped to address road congestion — with the state government previously saying boom gates were down for up to six hours a day at some level crossings — and open up public spaces around and under the rail line.
Stations and railway were elevated to remove six level crossings along the Armadale Line. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
Transport minister Rita Saffioti said despite cost and time blowouts, the level of infrastructure delivered through the Metronet project was "unprecedented".
"Generational infrastructure is hard," Ms Saffioti said.
"These projects are really for the public. They're about the future and they're about making transport even more affordable and accessible."
The projects were jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
Major disruption
Construction of the latest Metronet development did not come without disruption.
The Armadale line was shut down for 18 months for construction, and that disruption was set to continue for thousands of commuters due to a delay on the opening of the elevated Armadale and Byford stations.
The Armadale-Thornlie line has been shut since November 2023. ( ABC News: Rick Rifici )
Commuters relying on the Armadale line have been taking longer journeys on replacement bus services, while road closures have left some businesses isolated from their communities.
Butcher Matt Budny said at one point, roads on either side of his shop in Carlisle were closed to facilitate the Metronet construction and another roadworks project.
Butcher Matt Budny. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
"We were close to closing up ... after they closed both sides," Mr Budny said.
Mr Budny said the lack of access caused him to lose more than half of his usual business.
"Especially if you've got family, who wants to do a 15 minute detour?" he said.
"It was devastating [but] I know that things need to be done, the train line is a good thing."
Roads were closed while construction was underway to elevate rail and stations. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
A deli on the other side of the Carlisle station also told the ABC it lost about 50 per cent of its usual business when road closures cut off access to their shop.
