This announcement was also covered by Channel 7 and Channel 9. There are
links on the PETS Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/perth.electric.tramway.society

Brian Weedon

https://shorturl.at/msJSU

Whiteman Park tramway to link up with Morley to Ellenbrook train line

By https://www.watoday.com.au/by/hamish-hastie-h0ywju Hamish Hastie

February 11, 2024 - 11.07am

Light rail has finally come to Perth, but it's using 80-year-old technology
and the tracks will be built by TAFE students using scrap from other
Metronet projects.

Whiteman Park's popular heritage electric tram line will be extended to the
new Whiteman Park train station on the Morley to Ellenbrook line giving
visitors direct access to the park when the Metronet project opens later
this year.

The new tramway will include 1.3 kilometres of new tracks made up of 3900
rail sleepers and 3000 tonnes of ballast.

However, this will be made of 85 per cent recycled materials donated by
businesses working on Metronet projects to keep costs low.

The state government has committed $1 million to the project and North Metro
TAFE students will work on the project as part of their studies.

The new tram platform will be built just south of the station and will link
to the existing track in the park.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the tram extension was expected to be
operational as the Morley-Ellenbrook line opens later this year.

"It will change the visitor experience," she said.

"People and families can catch the train to Whiteman Park and then get on
board the tram into Whiteman Park proper."

Saffioti said the first tram to run on the track would be the last tram that
ran in 1958 on the old Inglewood electric tram line.

"It's a number 66 tram and that number will be used for the tram for the
first trip between this station and into the village proper," she said.

The Perth Electric Tramway Society operates the Whiteman Park tram network.

The society's Ray Blackmore was ecstatic at the news and said it would help
keep the state's tram heritage operational.

"This is unique to see where our heritage came from and we've got to keep it
moving, a lot of the stuff we are restoring is more than 100 years old," he
said.

Travel on the tram will be free for the first year of its operation.