As one of Australia’s fastest-growing capital cities, Perth faces increasing pressure on the performance and capacity of its existing public transport network. This reflects a broader national infrastructure challenge to unlock greater efficiency and reliability from existing public transport networks. Signalling and train control systems on Perth’s urban passenger network are approaching end of life. Replacing ageing assets with contemporary digital signalling and train control technologies would optimise network operations, improve reliability and enable service delivery on the existing network to meet forecast passenger demand.  

The proposal aligns with the Infrastructure Policy Statement, Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan and the National Urban Policy, which emphasise the role of efficient, reliable public transport in supporting productivity, improving access to jobs, education and services, and reducing emissions.  

The National Network for Interoperability (NNI) identifies Australia’s key interstate freight and passenger rail corridors to support harmonisation of operations across jurisdictions. Infrastructure and Transport Ministers have agreed that the European Train Control System (ETCS) is the future technology pathway for the NNI, and that any future digital signalling and train control system introduced on the NNI must comply with mandatory ETCS standards. This requirement applies to all digital signalling upgrades delivered directly on NNI corridors, including upgrades to urban passenger networks where they interface with, or provide access to, the NNI, to ensure interoperability across jurisdictions and support efficient freight and passenger movements. 

PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION  

The proposal would replace current signalling and control systems on the Public Transport Authority (PTA) urban passenger rail network with an Automatic Train Control (ATC) system based on Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology. CBTC is a digital signalling solution for high-frequency metropolitan rail networks and would support optimisation of capacity and reliability on Perth’s passenger rail network. The Western Australian Government selected the CBTC technology for the high capacity signalling program prior to the national agreement on ETCS. This selection followed a merit-based assessment of alternative ATC technologies. 

Existing interstate freight travelling on the NNI through the PTA network, which includes the Midland Line and the Fremantle Line, is very low and expected to cease entirely when freight rail migrates to Westport in the future. As such, the interoperability benefits from implementing ETCS technology on these lines would be minimal. The PTA will continue to provide a conventional signalling system to enable the continued operation for trains prior to the migration to Westport, supporting ongoing freight movements. Future signalling upgrades on the NNI (including for Westport) will include ETCS technology. 

INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION   

The Australian Government should note this proposal as a potential future investment opportunity within the 2-4 pipeline. 

The Australian Government has committed $300 million to delivery of Stage 1 of the High Capacity Signalling (METRONET) program. Further investment in digital signalling and train control technology to optimise the existing network would support the realisation of benefits from significant Australian Government investment in related METRONET projects.  

OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES  

This proposal has the potential to: 

• Optimise the capacity and resilience of the existing rail network – upgrading ageing signalling and train control assets with contemporary digital technology would unlock additional capacity, improve reliability and strengthen network resilience without the need for major network expansion. 
• Improve productivity and network performance – more reliable and high frequency services on existing infrastructure would support travel time savings and increase the efficiency of the rail system.
• Support liveability, employment and housing growth – a more efficient and reliable passenger rail network would improve access to jobs, education and services across Perth, supporting housing development around stations. 
• Support sustainability and emissions reduction outcomes – improved reliability and capacity on the existing rail network would encourage greater public transport use, easing road congestion pressures and contributing to lower transport emissions.  

NEXT STEPS  

Proponent to progress planning activities (in line with Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework) that demonstrate how proposed digital signalling (CBTC) upgrades would be staged and delivered to optimise the metropolitan passenger network, while ensuring compliance with mandatory ETCS standards for any future digital signalling and train control technology introduced on the NNI.