Best viewed in YouTube form to show plans and maps, but a summary is below!
The Forrestfield-Airport Link, completed in 2022 as one of the Metronet projects, has delivered a transformative rail service connecting Perth's CBD to its airport and the eastern suburbs. This project not only improves connectivity but also offers long-term economic and lifestyle benefits.
1. Enhanced Connectivity for Residents and Visitors
The new rail line provides a seamless, 20-minute journey between Perth's CBD and the airport, significantly improving access for locals, tourists, and FIFO workers. Spurring off the existing Midland Line near Bayswater Station, it extends through tunnels to High Wycombe, ensuring a fast and direct connection.
For FIFO workers, the rail link eliminates the need for costly rideshare or taxi services, offering a reliable and affordable alternative. Similarly, visitors to Perth benefit from hassle-free access to the city, enhancing Perth’s appeal as a travel destination. This improved connectivity also supports greater integration between the eastern suburbs and the rest of Perth, fostering economic and social links.
2. Congestion-Busting Transport for the Eastern Suburbs
The improved connectivity integrates Perth’s far eastern suburbs, providing public transport access to over 50,000 residents in areas like High Wycombe, Forrestfield, and Kalamunda. While future expansions may extend the line further into the hills, it already makes commuting easier, enhancing access to employment opportunities in the CBD.
3. Supporting Economic Growth and Development
The airport rail link is a cornerstone of a broader vision for economic expansion in Perth. With a $3 billion investment in Perth Airport’s upgrade - including new terminals, a parallel runway, and a hotel - the rail connection ensures the infrastructure is ready to support future growth. Qantas indicated this expansion will allow them to add 4.4 million seats to and from Perth annually by 2031, boosting tourism and making FIFO travel more efficient.
New airport layout with a new terminal for Qantas (red) and new runway (blue)
The broader development will also free up vast swathes of land for future development of retail, office, logistics, and other uses around the airport. I will release a video in the future providing an in-depth understanding of what’s happening.
The Forrestfield-Airport Link is more than just a train line—it’s a transformative project that enhances connectivity, affordability, and economic potential for Perth, and unlocks development and infrastructure opportunities for many years into the future.
