Western Australia’s officials have inaugurated the works on Perth’s USD 1.96 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL), at the site of the future Forrestfield Station.
“The FAL will provide a much-needed 20-minute public transport link between Perth’s CBD and the eastern suburbs, and importantly will service future projected growth of residential and business developments planned along the rail route,” Premier Colin Barnett said.
The FAL project will create an 8.5 km rail line, from a spur on the Midland Line east of Bayswater Station, largely underground to Dundas Road in Forrestfield. It will include three new train stations, including two underground at Belmont (near Brearley Avenue) and Airport Central (Perth Airport T1/T2) and another aboveground at Forrestfield.
“Construction of the rail line is an important step in improving public transport in Perth’s eastern suburbs and reducing congestion in the metropolitan area,” Transport Minister Bill Marmion said.
Preliminary works are underway at the Forrestfield end of the rail line, with relocation of key utilities complete and work set to start on the construction of the ‘dive structure’ or entry points to the rail tunnels before the end of 2016.
Two tunnel boring machines will arrive from Germany in mid-2017, when drilling is expected to start.
Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher said the FAL would enhance the economic benefits of the airport by improving access to the CBD for visitors to Perth.
FAL is jointly funded by the State Government (USD 1.47 billion) and Australian governments (USD 490 million 8 km of the 8.5 km FAL rail line will be underground).
Share on:
