Metro Area Express (Perth)

This article is about the planned light rail network in Perth, Western Australia. For other uses, see Metropolitan Area Express.

Metro Area Express (MAX)

File:MAX (Perth) urban centre station concept image.jpg Concept image of urban centre station
Overview
Owner	Government of Western Australia
Locale	Perth, Western Australia
Transit type	Light rail
Number of lines	1 + 2 spur lines
Website	www.max.wa.gov.au
Operation
Operation will start	Project on hold
Operator(s)	Transperth
Number of vehicles	Articulated trams
Technical
System length
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
System map Legend Polytechnic WestBalga Mirrabooka bus stationMirrabooka Cottonwood CrescentDianella Morley Drive NorthDianella Morley DriveDianella Dianella PlazaDianella Woodrow AvenueDianella/Yokine Terry Tyzak Aquatic CentreInglewood ECU Mt LawleyMt Lawley WoodvilleNorth Perth North PerthNorth Perth Robertson ParkNorthbridge Aberdeen StreetNorthbridge Perth ArenaPerth CBD City SquarePerth CBD Swan River CausewayVictoria Park QEII Medical CentreNedlands

Metro Area Express (MAX) was a proposed light rail network for Perth, Western Australia. It was scheduled to open in 2022, but the government has since proposed building a heavy rail line.

Background

Further information: Trams in Perth

Perth's original tramway network, which linked the Perth central business district with many of Perth's inner suburbs, was in operation between the end of the nineteenth century and 1958.

Since the start of 2007, there have been four proposals for the reintroduction of trams to the Perth metropolitan area, in the form of light rail. At least two of the proposals have been the subject of a detailed feasibility study.

In September 2012, the Government of Western Australia announced plans for a new Perth network, to be known as Metro Area Express (MAX).

Construction of the first stage was originally scheduled to begin in 2016, and be completed by the end of 2018. However, in December 2013 the government announced the project would be deferred for three years. Under the new timeframe the MAX network was to open in 2022.

In April 2014, incoming transport minister Dean Nalder stated the government would investigate splitting the project into two parts, to allow an earlier start to be made on construction with priority given to the Balga - CBD section.

In March 2015, the government announced it was considering using buses to implement the MAX route rather than light rail. Transport minister Dean Nalder said a preliminary analysis suggested that using buses would cost approximately 50% less than a light rail system. In February 2016 it was proposed by the government that a heavy rail line be built.

Route

The first stage of the MAX network was to run from the Polytechnic West campus in Balga, in Perth's northern suburbs, to the Perth CBD, with spur lines from the CBD to the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre in Nedlands and to the eastern end of the Causeway in Victoria Park.

See also

• Trams in Fremantle
• Trams in Australia

External links

• MAX – official site
• Perth Light Rail – a coalition lobbying for the introduction of light rail to Perth