Stadium Station construction begins

Work on the train station at the new Perth Stadium site at Burswood has reached a major milestone with construction now under way.

  • Construction of stadium train station begins

  • Animation detailing the project construction stages has gone live

  • Smart building techniques will ensure minimal impact on train services 

Work on the train station at the new Perth Stadium site at Burswood has reached a major milestone with construction now under way. 

Visiting the site to mark the start of construction, Transport Minister Dean Nalder said Stadium Station would be completed in 2017 in time for extensive commissioning and testing before it opens in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season.

"This Government is focused on delivering a smart transport solution for the new Perth Stadium with a series of integrated infrastructure including bike paths, a pedestrian bridge and the new train station," Mr Nalder said.

Forward works began more than a year ago and involved 'slewing' or relocating the tracks in line with the location of the new station.

"The station itself will cost about $40 million to build, with a further $60 million to be spent on the 11 kilometres of complex overhead wiring and track to support this world-class piece of infrastructure.  When complete it will be the second biggest station on the Transperth network, after Perth," the Minister said.

Mr Nalder released an animation providing an insight into how the station would be built. It shows that, through clever design, the number of columns on each platform is halved to improve the passenger experience by providing greater light, access and visibility.

In coming months, two big tower cranes will be erected on the site to enable the PRISM Alliance (the Public Transport Authority, Laing O'Rourke and AECOM) to start work on four of the platforms and a second set of tracks.

Trains on the existing Armadale/Thornlie Line will then be swapped over to use the new tracks, so work on the final two platforms can be completed.

The animation can be viewed here.  For more information on the project, visit http://www.perthstadium.com.au

Fact File

  • Stadium Station will have six platforms, 11 lifts and 11km of tracks

  • About 340 tonnes of steel will be required to build the concourse

  • Stadium Station will be operational in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season

  • About 180 contractors and subcontractors will be engaged during construction

Minister's office - 6552 6400

Background

1.         Statistics 

  • The station is just one part of the $358 million integrated transport solution for the new Perth Stadium
  • It will have six platforms, with a train leaving every two to three minutes after a game
  • It will allow 28,000 passengers to depart within an hour of an event
  • There will be full cover for passengers waiting on the platforms
  • It will be accessibly compliant with lifts between the platforms and concourses
  • The station's design will complement the new Perth Stadium and is clean, crisp and modern
  • A wide roof reaches out from two enclosed concourses to provide full cover for passengers on the platform so they will be protected from the weather
  • It has capacity to stow 117 railcars near the station
  • About 80 per cent of a capacity crowd at the station will use public transport (walking, bus and train) to get to and from events.  

2.         Will the station be open all the time? 

  • Not at this stage. The station is primarily a special events station. Much like Showgrounds Station it will operate only when there is an event (such as the football or concerts). In the longer term it depends on further development of the area (commercial, residential, entertainment etc.) around the stadium and Belmont Park
  • Stadium Station and its associated rail infrastructure will enable the Public Transport Authority to transfer thousands of people to and from the stadium with the minimum amount of disruption
  • The only other option to move so many people would have involved building thousands upon thousands of car bays and relied on patrons to drive themselves, which would have been a costly, inefficient and congestion-building endeavour. 

3.         There has been a lot of talk about creating a 'fan-first' Perth Stadium. Will the same principle apply to transport? 

  • This will rival the public transport options on show at some of the world's most popular sporting venues
  • It has been designed to corral passengers by their specific line and make it easier for crowds to move through
  • Public art will be incorporated into the final design. 

4.         When will the station be open? 

  • Construction will be completed in mid-2017 to allow for extensive testing and commissioning before services start in time for the first game of the 2018 football season.

5.         How much is the overall investment in public transport for the stadium? 

  • The Government is investing $358 million in a fully-integrated transport plan for the new Perth Stadium including:
    • Stadium Station will allow a train to leave the station every two to three minutes, moving around 28,000 passengers within an hour of the game ending
    • A facility to load up to 20 buses at any given time, moving 8,000 passengers
    • Two major pedestrian routes - including a new pedestrian bridge connecting East Perth with the stadium, which will move a combined number of about 15,000 people.  

6.         What about Friday night games? 

  • Transport to Friday night football games has always posed a challenge because games are scheduled to suit Eastern States television audiences, despite the fact that the traditional starting time (6pm-6.30pm) is on the tail end of peak traffic hour in WA
  • Transperth moves people to and from games on Friday nights under existing arrangements at Subiaco and will continue to do so when football moves to the new Perth Stadium
  • The new Perth Stadium will have significantly improved transport facilities than those already on offer at Subiaco.  

7.         Will there be enough trains for the new stadium? 

  • Yes. All 22 of the three-car railcar sets this Government ordered will have arrived by 2017
  • There is also capacity to stow 117 railcars near the station. 

8.         Who designed the station and who is building it?  

  • Hassell Ltd was awarded a $5.5 million contract to prepare the Stadium Station design in June last year
  • The station will be constructed by an alliance made up of AECOM, Laing O'Rourke and the PTA. 

9.         What is the next step? 

  • Two tower cranes will soon be erected on site, which will enable work on four of the six station platforms and a second set of tracks to begin
  • Trains travelling on the existing Armadale/Thornlie Line will then be swapped over to the new tracks, so work on the final two platforms can be completed
  • Stadium Station will be completed in 2017 for testing and commissioning to be finalised before the 2018 football season.