Fast train concept connecting Perth with Bunbury, Geraldton & Esperance pitched to State Government planners

A high-speed train connecting Perth to Geraldton, Bunbury and Esperance has been pitched to the State Government to be considered as part of its upcoming infrastructure projects over the next two decades. The “rapid rail network” would link Geraldton and Perth before travelling through Bunbury and smaller regional towns to Esperance, with further connections to Augusta via Busselton, Vasse and Margaret River and Albany via Cranbook and Mount Barker. Retired academic Kevin McQuoid submitted the plan to Infrastructure WA, proposing the trip from Perth to Bunbury could take less than an hour on trains travelling up to 180km/h along the Forrest Highway corridor. Mr McQuoid’s plan outlines how a fast railway from Geraldton to Esperance could spread WA’s population across a wider area, taking pressure off Greater Perth. “Moving regional settlements closer to Perth by reducing travel time via rapid rail transit would convert them into ‘outer suburbs’ and stimulate their growth,” he wrote. “Quicker access to the capital city’s range of social, cultural, recreational, professional and governmental needs and wants would not only be beneficial to people in the regions — but would also draw many city dwellers to relocate to country areas.” Mr McQuoid said the key section to unlock the full potential of the concept was to connect Bunbury to Tambellup via Donnybrook and Boyup Brook to provide “more direct and faster access to the southern regions”. Infrastructure WA chief executive Phil Helberg said Mr McQuoid’s submission was one of many made in response to public consultation on the strategy, which closed in mid-September. “IWA’s draft strategy includes a recommendation to investigate the feasibility of a fast-rail connection between Perth and Bunbury in the long term,” he said. “(Mr McQuoid’s paper) was not commissioned by IWA, and was one of many transport-related submissions received as part of public consultation for the draft strategy.” He said IWA was not working on any high-speed rail proposals and the State Government’s response to the recommendations in the final SIS was expected in 2022. The State and Federal governments have committed $8 million to investigate the viability of a fast train between Perth and Bunbury, the results of which are expected to be completed in mid 2023.