Its total length will be 8.5 kilometres, 8.0 kilometres of which will be underground. Bus / train interchanges at Belmont and Forrestfield and the tunnel cross passages. Completing the Forrestfield-Airport Link is a key part of the McGowan Government's METRONET plan, and he said the first component of Labor's Metronet plan would provide 2,000 jobs over the duration of the project.
"This is a fundamental part of our Metronet plan to link our suburbs, to make sure that we have better planning, linked-up communities and more jobs." Mr McGowan said. He further added "We want to maximise local jobs, that's what we're about."
Near the main tunnel portal at Forrestfield, is the most vital construction site for the Forrestfield-Airport Link. Premier Mark McGowan accompanied with the Transport Minister Rita Saffioti inspected the rail tunnel. In a statement she said “The Forrestfield-Airport Link will open up the Perth foothills, providing a new option for the community to access the CBD, Perth Airport and wider public transport network.”
A Forrestfield factory will begin making 132 segments of the tunnel each day, with a total 54,000 segments and 9000 rings to line the 8km tunnel. “This is a major, major project for WA,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said. The rail link forms part of the METRONET vision to create livable communities connected by world class public transport. It is expected that the first trains scheduled to be running on the line in 2020.