Construction of the 72km Mandurah Line required boring tunnels under the CBD to new underground stations and platforms, adding a railway bridge to the Narrows Bridge, widening the Mt Henry Bridge and running the railway down the centre of the Kwinana Freeway until Thomas Road when it veers south west through the Town of Kwinana and City of Rockingham on its way to Mandurah.
Stations
Two city stations and nine suburban stations have been built along the Mandurah Line.
City Stations
Perth Underground Station was constructed below the commercial city block bounded by the Murray Street Mall, William Street and Wellington Street. A concourse underneath the Horseshoe Bridge connects Perth Underground Station with the existing Perth Station platforms. Escalators, stairs and lifts have been installed and provide access to the platforms from street level.
Esplanade Station is located below the Mounts Bay Road, The Esplanade and William Street intersection. This station provides excellent pedestrian access to the Busport, St Georges Terrace, Barrack Square and The Esplanade. Works have included demolition of the William Street Bridge and construction of alternate connections to freeway north and south, piling activities, excavation and station box construction as well as cut and cover tunnelling work.
Suburban Stations
Between 2003 and 2007, nine suburban stations were constructed under four contracts. They are:
Canning Bridge Station
Bull Creek Station
Murdoch Station
Cockburn Central Station
Kwinana Station
Wellard Station
Rockingham Station
Warnbro Station
Mandurah Station
More information about these operating stations can be found on the Transperth website.
Infrastructure
Track for the Mandurah Line was laid north and south from Rockingham, using the same self-contained track laying equipment and method as the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway. The technique meant there was minimal traffic disruption when the track was being laid in the centre of the Kwinana Freeway.
In addition to the laying of track, infrastructure works on the project also included the construction of a railcar storage and internal cleaning depot at Mandurah, 15 road, rail and pedestrian bridges and underpasses between Glen Iris and Mandurah, station earthworks, railway formation, drainage, fences, traffic barriers, access roads, signs, accommodation works, retaining walls, noise walls, landscaping, services relocation and protection.
Electrical substations were also built at Jandakot and Karnup to convert the 132kV supply to the 25kV power needed to operate the trains.
Joondalup Line Extension
The Joondalup Line was extended by 4km from Currambine to Clarkson. New stations were built at Clarkson, Currambine and Greenwood and platforms at all stations along the line have been extended to take longer trains and increase the capacity of the line.
Nowergup Railcar Depot
The Nowergup Railcar Depot was completed, and on May 17, 2004, handed over to EDI Rail Bombardier Transportation maintenance division.
The $36 million purpose-built depot, north of Clarkson, will service trains operating between Clarkson and Mandurah.
The depot was built under the same contract as the supply of the 31 new 3-car sets and their maintenance for up to 15 years.
Thornlie Spur Line
The NMR project included the construction of a spur line from the existing Armadale line to a new station constructed in Thornlie.
Not only does this provide access to residents of the area, it also dramatically increases the capacity of the Armadale Line and cuts the travelling time from Armadale to the city.
Full services began operating on 8 August 2005.