Zempilas laments Australind train’s absence as fuel prices bite

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has taken aim at the Cook government for a delay in restarting the Australind rail service, with testing of the new trains ongoing despite past assurances they would be ready when the Armadale line reopened last year.

With fuel prices skyrocketing because of the war in Iran, and Transperth rail services chockers, Zempilas said a direct rail route from Perth to Bunbury would have been handy to have before Easter.

“When it’s open, it will provide a very valuable and important connectivity to a very significant population base, both ways in Western Australia,” he said.

“We know there are delays from time to time, but this seems a very significant one,” he said.

“It’s something that would have been very handy at this time and, again, it speaks to the competence and delivery of this state government with a range of projects that don’t seem to fit into their priority basket.

“I would ask the state government, if they’re close to being able to get this operating again, make it the priority that West Australians want it to be. They want to be able to use that service, and it should be available.”

The state is building six new Australind rail cars as part of the $1.6 billion Metronet railcar manufacturing program taking place at French train builder Alstom’s Bellevue factory.

The designs were first announced in 2020, and at the time former Premier Mark McGowan expected them to be delivered in 2022-23.

That timeline blew out, but as recently as last year, trains were expected to be ready for the reopening of the modernised Armadale line, which occurred in October.

At the reopening, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the trains would be ready soon, and while they have been spotted in testing, there is still no confirmed date when the service will restart.

Saffioti unveiled the completed yellow and orange livery on one of the new trains last week.

WA Premier Roger Cook acknowledged the project was delayed and attributed it to ongoing testing.

“During the election campaign, we committed to re-energising the Australind by getting new carriages, more frequent services, and we also utilised our made in WA plan to ensure that those trains are built in Western Australia,” he said.

“The trains have been completed, and they are undergoing testing as we speak.

“We did say that we’d bring it on in the first quarter of 2026, but we want to make sure that we get it right, and we want to make sure it’s completely safe for passengers.

“We’ll be making an announcement very shortly about the recommencement of the Australind trains.”

In January 2025, the state announced it would purchase two additional three-car train sets for $80 million.