Since the start of 2007, there have been four proposals for the reintroduction of trams to the Perth metropolitan area, in the form of light rail.

[2][3] In September 2012, the Government of Western Australia announced plans for a new Perth network, to be known as Metro Area Express (MAX).

[7] In April 2014, incoming transport minister Dean Nalder stated the government would investigate splitting the project into two parts, to allow an earlier start to be made on construction with priority given to the Balga - CBD section.

Transport minister Dean Nalder said a preliminary analysis suggested that using buses would cost approximately 50% less than a light rail system.

[11] The first stage of the MAX network was to run from the Polytechnic West campus in Balga, in Perth's northern suburbs, to the Perth CBD, with spur lines from the CBD to the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre in Nedlands and to the eastern end of the Causeway in Victoria Park.