Ministerial Statement: start of rail services between Perth and Mandurah

[ozbob]

10/11/07

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has announced that the start of rail services between Perth and Mandurah had been scheduled for December 23, 2007.

?The commencement of trials yesterday and the success of the testing operations has given us sufficient confidence to set a date for opening services,? Ms MacTiernan said.

?Our ability to open services on that day will, of course, be dependent on the RailLink contractors meeting their timetable for opening the tracks for training.

?Driver training is scheduled to begin on November 19, 2007.

?We are very keen to have this long-awaited expansion of our passenger rail network up and running as soon as possible, for the benefit of the travelling public.?