It’s got Commonwealth backing, but will Labor fully realise its Metronet vision?

The Metronet circle line is officially a Commonwealth priority after appearing on the 2026 Infrastructure Australia priority projects list on Wednesday.

Its appearance on the list of national priority projects within a five to 10 year timeframe will add to the increasing public intrigue around the project and comes after Premier Roger Cook twice publicly stated his wish for the circle line to be completed.

Infrastructure Australia listed the WA government as the project’s proponent, but Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said it has nothing to do with her or the Cook government.

Labor’s original vision for Metronet in December 2012 included north and south circle routes, while its 2017 election pledge included a vague large circle route connecting the Yanchep line to Fremantle, cutting through the city’s other rail lines.

The proposal, as listed on the Infrastructure Australia site, is dubbed the “Perth metro orbital rail route” and a mock-up shows Morley Station connecting to Stirling Station on the Yanchep line.

That will then connect to Shenton Park on the Fremantle line and travel further south to a proposed UWA QEII station and across the river to a proposed Booragoon station, which then connects to the existing Murdoch Station on the Mandurah line.

In addition to the circle line, part of the proposal includes connecting the Ellenbrook line to the Yanchep line heading toward Butler Station, called the East Wanneroo Rail Link.

The proposal said Perth was experiencing strong population growth and more high-capacity rail lines were needed to support growth corridors.

“The Perth rail network planning proposal responds to this need by planning for additional heavy rail capacity, including new connections to serve growing areas,” it said.

“A new orbital rail service could provide easier access between major activity centres without requiring transfers through CBD stations.

“Such an orbital would ultimately allow travel eastward from Murdoch to the Armadale Line, and Stirling to Morley, making a near complete circle around the Perth CBD.”

The project is listed as requiring investment in five to 10 years.

With the completion of Midland Station last month, phase one of Labor’s promised Metronet rail network expansion is complete, but this masthead understands no serious planning on the circle line has started.

However, its appearance on the Infrastructure Priority List adds weight to the view that Labor will eventually look to realise its ultimate Metronet vision.

Saffioti said the state government did not put forward the Perth metropolitan orbital rail route to Infrastructure Australia.

“It is not currently under consideration,” she said.

“We are always looking at ways to improve our world-class public transport network and how we can continue to deliver accessible and affordable public transport for WA’s growing population.

“We’ll continue to work closely with the Albanese Government to progress projects that deliver the best outcomes for the people of WA.”

She also said the proposed East Wanneroo line was “outdated”.

“We continue to work on reviewing public transport options for the East Wanneroo corridor,” she said.

Other rail projects in Perth also made it onto the priority list including the upgrades to old stations on the Armadale, Midland and Fremantle train lines to accommodate larger six car sets.

Infrastructure Australia recommended investment needed to occur on this project within two to four years.

The high-capacity signalling project under way was also listed as a priority.

“The PTA’s High-Capacity Signalling project will replace and significantly upgrade signalling and train control systems on Perth’s passenger rail network, allowing more trains to run more often,” Saffioti said.

“It will be delivered in stages over several years to minimise disruption to the operational railway.”