| Ellenbrook line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ellenbrook line within Tonkin Highway south of Collier Road, June 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other name(s) | Morley–Ellenbrook line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Unopened | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Public Transport Authority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Perth, Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 5 (branch) 13 (total) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Suburban rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | Transperth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Public Transport Authority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depot(s) | Claisebrook railcar depot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | Transperth B-series trains | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commenced | January 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planned opening | 8 December 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 27.9 km (17.3 mi)[a] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | At-grade and elevated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signalling | Fixed block signalling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train protection system | Automatic train protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Ellenbrook line, known as the Morley–Ellenbrook line during construction, is an unopened suburban railway line and service in Perth, Western Australia, which will be operated by the Public Transport Authority as part of the Transperth system. The line branches from the Midland line at Bayswater station and heads north-north-west to serve five new stations along a 21.3-kilometre (13.2 mi) route to Ellenbrook. Ellenbrook line services will continue west of Bayswater station alongside Midland and Airport line services to terminate at Perth station in the central business district.
Land for a transit line to Ellenbrook was reserved in the 1990s during the first stages of the development of Ellenbrook as a "master planned community". A railway line to Ellenbrook was promised by both major political parties in the leadup to the 2008 state election, but it was cancelled by the Liberal government after winning the election. After the Labor Party won the 2017 state election, the Ellenbrook line began planning as part of the wider Metronet project. Enabling works within the Tonkin Highway median strip were undertaken by the Tonkin Gap project, which started construction in November 2020 and was completed in early 2024. The main Ellenbrook line contract was awarded to Laing O'Rourke in October 2020 and construction began in January 2022. The main contract's original budget was $1.123 billion, which was increased in 2023 to $1.651 billion. The first station was completed in March 2024 and tracklaying was completed by July. The first train entered the line in August and all stations were complete by November. The line is planned to open on 8 December 2024.
Branching from the Midland line at Bayswater station, the Ellenbrook line enters a viaduct to exit the Midland line via a flying junction before entering the median strip of Tonkin Highway through a short tunnel. The line heads north from there, stopping at Morley and Noranda stations, before exiting the highway through another tunnel to reach Ballajura station. The Ellenbrook line then runs east along the southern side of Whiteman Park before bending north to head between Whiteman Park and Drumpellier Drive to reach Whiteman Park station. North from there, the line enters Ellenbrook to terminate at Ellenbrook station.
The Ellenbrook line will have a frequency of five trains per hour during peak, reducing to four trains per hour off peak, operated by B-series trains. Peak frequencies are planned to increase to six trains per hour by 2031, which will require upgrades to signalling to accommodate the Ellenbrook line alongside Airport and Midland line services. All stations along the branch are fully accessible and have 150-metre-long (490 ft) platforms, but train lengths are limited by 100-metre (330 ft) platforms between Perth and Bayswater. The branch is forecast to have 11,753 boardings per weekday upon opening, increasing to 18,070 boardings per weekday in 2031.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).