Rita Saffioti insists Metronet worth it despite huge budget blowouts as Midland Station opening date revealed

Rita Saffioti insisted Metronet has been worth the multi-million dollar budget blowouts, as she announced an opening date for the new Midland station that has almost doubled in price.

The original budget of $239 million blew out to $417 million, but the Transport Minister says the result is transformational.

“What we’ve done is deliver 72 kilometres of new rail,” she said.

“We’ve delivered 23 new stations, removed level crossings and, without this type of infrastructure, without this type of investment, it’d be harder to move around our suburbs.

“It’s absolutely worth it and it’s an issue that we’ve taken now to three elections, endorsed each time with overwhelming support from the community.”

The Midland Line will be partially shutdown for 31 days from 22 January, between Bassendean and Midland, for final critical works that include the demolition of the current train station.

The Morrison Road level crossing will also be closed.

“There’ll be bus replacement services, as there always is when we have to do these interruptions,” Ms Saffioti said.

A community event will be held on Sunday 22 February to officially open the new station, that includes a pedestrian overpass, bike shelters, a new bus interchange and a multi-storey car park with 800 bays.

Ms Saffioti said it is the final piece of the Metronet puzzle that has been her focus for eight years.

“I’m really proud of the work that’s been done,” she said.

“This has been a project that has employed thousands of people . . . If you look at our train stations, they’re world class.”