Mandurah train line on track to reach milestone

The Mandurah train line is on track to pass a new milestone with the service steaming towards 21 million patrons who have used the train line for the 2012-13 financial year.

Latest statistics from the Public Transport Authority reveal 600,000 more passengers have used the service for the nine months to March.

Passenger numbers peaked in March when more than 1.9 million passengers used the Mandurah line, taking total passenger numbers to 15,669,291. Passenger numbers increased 9.5 per cent last year on the Mandurah line and an increase of just 3.5 per cent this year would see the 21 million figure reached.

Warnbro MLA Paul Papalia said he was not surprised by the statistics and has renewed calls for a station between Warnbro and Mandurah.

“I just think those figures confirm what everyone is experiencing— and what everyone believes — is there is massive demand and there needs to be a lot more serious expenditure on public transport in the southern corridor,” he said.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said there were no immediate plans for any additional stations on the Mandurah line.

Mr Buswell said a Karnup station near Paganoni Road was a long-term project and subject to more analysis.