Australind train from Perth to Bunbury to return by June as Minister Rita Saffioti acknowledges delay

The long-awaited Australind train from Perth to Bunbury will return by winter, nearly three years after its closure.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, speaking on Wednesday, announced the Australind train service would be back on the tracks from Monday, June 29.

It follows a long list of delays after its closure in 2023 due to works on the Armadale line.

The train line was initially scheduled to reopen in mid-2025 after the works had completed.

But, Ms Saffioti said at the time that delays to the Thornlie-Cockburn line had pushed back the reopening. The State Government then said it planned to reopen the line in the “first quarter of 2026” but testing delayed it once again.

On Wednesday, Ms Saffioti said the train line would reopen in stages, starting with just one train on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Coach services will continue running on the other days until a second train is launched in early August, she said.

There are plans to bring in four trains in total, with the State Government promising to double the number of services by “early next year”.

“Thanks again to the community for their patience during the important testing and commissioning phase of the new trains,” she said.

“It’s been essential to ensure the new fleet meets the highest standards of safety, reliability and performance before welcoming passengers on board.”

Shadow transport minister Steve Martin referred to the June trains as a “half-service” and said regional communities deserved better.

Mr Martin has called for the full rollout to be fast-tracked.

“This project has been plagued by delay after delay, with missed deadlines, and now a staged rollout that still leaves passengers relying on buses for part of the week,” Mr Martin said.

“After all this time, people expected a full, reliable service, not a limited timetable that only runs a few days a week.”

“The focus now must be on fast-tracking the full service because anything less is simply not good enough for people and businesses in the South West.”

South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch said it was “absolutely fabulous” to have a return date locked in.

“I know in the time that I have lived and worked in Bunbury, that the train service is part of the heart and soul of our community,” he said.

Mr Punch said there would be a community celebration on June 28 to commemorate the event, and they would be hosting a naming competition for the new carriages, however Ms Saffioti said “Trainy McTrainface” was not a name the State would conside