Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project
The Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project is a project by the Government of Western Australia to elevate part of the Armadale line, thereby removing six level crossings and rebuilding five stations to modern standards.
The stations to be rebuilt as part of the project are, from north to south, Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington, and Beckenham.
The project originated from an election promise by the Labor Party in the lead up to the 2017 Western Australian state election, promising to remove the Oats Street and Wharf Street level crossings among others as part of their proposed Metronet project.
[2] The six level crossings between Mint Street in East Victoria Park and William Street in Beckenham have the most frequent closures of any level crossing on the Transperth network, closing up to 280 times per day totalling up to 7.5 hours per day.
The railway will return to grade south of Oats Street station before rising up again to pass over Welshpool Road along a 160-metre (520 ft) bridge.
[5]: 13 The project originated from an election promise by the Labor Party in the lead up to the 2017 Western Australian state election, promising to remove the Oats Street and Wharf Street level crossings among others as part of their proposed Metronet project.
[13][2][14] Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the decision to go with a viaduct was inspired by the sky rail used in the Level Crossing Removal Project in Melbourne, but that this project would not require the acquisition of nearby houses as the rail reserve is wide.
The report released by Infrastructure Australia stated that "the project is unlikely to deliver a productivity benefit to the economy" and that there is "limited evidence that the grade separations are the most cost-effective solution for addressing the identified problems".
They were the Armadale Line Upgrade Alliance, consisting of Acciona Construction, BMD Constructions, WSP and AECOM, and the Elevate Alliance, consisting of Downer EDI Works, CPB Contractors, GHD, Aurecon Australasia, and CareyMC.
[20][21] In February 2022, it was announced that an 18-month-long shutdown of the Armadale line would have to occur for the construction of the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project, as well as the Byford extension and the Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
[27][28] The Railway (METRONET) Amendment Bill 2022 was passed by the Parliament of Western Australia in March 2022, enabling the project to occur.
[29] In April 2022, during the 2022 Australian federal election campaign, Labor leader Anthony Albanese committed $87.5 million of federal funding for the removal of the William Street level crossing and rebuild of Beckenham station, if elected.
[47][48] The first train ran on the new elevated rail on 20 January 2025, running from the Thornlie line to Carlisle station.
[needs update][54] Construction for the Thornlie–Cockburn Link, an extension of the Thornlie branch line, is planned to occur during the shutdown.
[57] Shadow Metronet Minister Tjorn Sibma has said that people would likely drive instead of catching the replacement buses, predicting that there would be an extra 7,000 to 8,000 cars on the road during the shutdown.
[41] Curtin University senior lecturer in urban and regional planning Courtney Babb has criticised the shutdown, saying it will cause "mass disruption" for questionable benefit.
[58] Peter Martinovich, a retired Public Transport Authority executive director, has criticised the 18-month-long shutdown, saying it would inevitably increase in cost and time.
[59] Grattan Institute transport and cities program director Marion Terrill compared the length of this shutdown to the much shorter shutdowns on Melbourne's Level Crossing Removal Project, saying "even that has been quite disruptive with buses replacing trains".
