Heritage train Leschenault Lady will run on the re-layed track at the Boyanup railway station yard. Photo provided by Rail Heritage WA.

In a blend of sustainability and historical preservation, the METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project has donated around 400 pre-used railway sleepers to Rail Heritage WA.

The sleepers were removed from the METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project as part of upgrade works on the project and will be used to re-lay 300m of the ‘goods siding’ track in the Boyanup railway station yard - doubling its distance and doubling the vintage rail experience for visiting train enthusiasts.

The collaborative effort between the Byford Rail Extension Project team and Rail Heritage WA highlights the power of community, and shows that by embracing sustainability and repurposing materials, we can work towards a more sustainable future.

“Our goal is to present WA’s railway heritage meaningfully to everybody, and being able to ride behind a live steam locomotive in vintage railway carriages is about as hands-on an historical rail experience as you can get. With the donated sleepers we can expand our scope to do this at Boyanup and give our visitors a better experience,” Rail Heritage WA Secretary Ian Studham said.

In addition to the donated sleepers, the Byford Rail Extension Project will also reuse some sleepers within its own operations for the 8km rail alignment, in line with the METRONET Sustainability Strategy and the goal of working towards a low waste circular economy.