Metronet: Track works finished as Government reveals Ballajura name change

One of the biggest new train stations on the Ellenbrook rail line will have its name changed, as the Government officially marked completion of track work on the project. Speaking at the new Ballajura train station on Tuesday, Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announced several milestones in the project and the finalisation of the Tonkin Highway Gap works. Originally sold as the Malaga station to connect workers to the industrial area, Mr Cook said the name change to Ballajura was more appropriate. “The new station here will be renamed the Ballajura Station to better reflect the significant residential development which is taking place to the west of the station,” he said. “Ballajura Station is just a 21-minute journey to the city connecting the suburbs of Ballajura, Landsdale, Alexander Heights, Malaga and Bennett Springs to high-quality, affordable public transport.” The completion of 21km of track works means line electrification can start in August before testing and driver training happens the line. Ms Saffioti maintained that the line would be open before the end of 2024 but refused to give a clearer date. Among other milestones reached, the Government said the construction of a footbridge over Tonkin Highway connecting the station to Ballajura was the final step in the project. Works to duplicate lanes on the highway over the Swan at Bayswater have been underway since 2020, with roadworks now complete. “We know that there was a significant bottleneck along the Tonkin Highway because we had the Gateway project finished a number of years ago and then the NorthLink project, which meant severe congestion around that Bayswater area,” Ms Saffioti said. “The Tonkin Gap project has created new on and off ramps and, of course, a doubling of the bridges and what we’re seeing now is already a much quicker travel time throughout that area.” Speed limits along the stretch of highway had been restored to 100km/h and Ms Saffioti said she expected traffic to ease.