Consortium appoints consultant to develop case for commuter services on Bunbury-Bridgetown rail line

A consultancy firm has been commissioned to develop a business and social benefit case for commuter services on the Bunbury-Bridgetown rail line. A feasibility study into re-opening the line — which has not been operational for more than 15 years — started in July last year, with Greenbushes mine operator Talison Lithium spearheading the effort in order to reduce its truck traffic on South Western Highway. Queensland-based rail consultants Linqage International will compile the commuter case, having been commissioned by a consortium including Talison, the Balingup Progress Association, the City of Bunbury and the shires of Donnybrook-Balingup, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Dardanup and Capel. Balingup Rail Group chair Malcolm Lee said commuter possibilities were “ancillary” to potential business use but they would create real benefits for towns on the line. “This line has a long history of being used for tourism purposes ... it’s not an introduction of something that is fresh and untried, ” he said. “The support for this is well-spread.” Community forums on the possibility of commuter services on the line will be held in the shires of Manjimup, Bridgetown-Greenbushes and Donnybrook-Balingup next month, as well as in Perth, Bunbury and Busselton. The wider feasibility study, which is being funded in equal part by the State Government and Talison, is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.