The first 1km of track for the Forrestfield-Airport Link project has been laid between Redcliffe and Airport Central stations.  

Following completion of the two tunnels in April 2020, the milestone marks a new stage for the project and is an important step towards completion of the rail line. 

Australian company Martinus Rail will use about 2,400 tonnes of Australian-manufactured steel in the track-laying process. 

The rail started out as 27.5m pieces of steel before being flash-butt welded into giant 220m strings. Multiple teams work simultaneously to weld lengths of rail, transport and precisely lay the rail and sleepers to form the skeleton track in the tunnels, then pour the concrete that finishes the slab track. 

Preparation is also underway for the installation of the overhead line equipment and the complex systems for communications and signalling. 

The future Airport Line, which is due to open in late 2021, will provide a 20-minute rail link between the Perth CBD and the eastern suburbs, with three new stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central and High Wycombe.