Two long-term proposals to expand Perth's metropolitan railway network have reached an early planning milestone following an assessment by Infrastructure Australia.

The proposals include a new railway through East Wanneroo and an orbital rail route connecting several major activity centres across Perth's northern, western and southern suburbs.

Infrastructure Australia completed its initial Defining Problems and Opportunities assessment after identifying the proposals as potential investment opportunities within its five-to-ten-year infrastructure pipeline.

The independent Federal advisory body examines major infrastructure needs and provides recommendations about projects that could warrant future government investment.

The assessment identified Perth's continuing population growth as a major reason for considering additional public transport infrastructure.

Perth's population is forecast to increase from approximately three million in 2024–25 to 4.9 million by 2065–66, while rail patronage is expected to triple by 2051.

Although the Western Australian Government has invested more than $15 billion in expanding the metropolitan railway network since 2017, Infrastructure Australia concluded that further improvements would be necessary to accommodate long-term demand.

East Wanneroo Railway

The proposed East Wanneroo railway would provide an east-west connection between the Morley–Ellenbrook and Yanchep railway lines.

The suggested alignment would follow the future Whiteman–Yanchep Highway corridor, with proposed transit stations at Mariginiup and Gnangara.

A public transport corridor had previously been identified in the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan.

The wider East Wanneroo development area is expected to accommodate more than 50,000 new homes and approximately 150,000 residents over the next 50 years.

Construction of the first stage of development in the area commenced in August 2026.

The railway proposal is intended to improve public transport access for future residents and provide connections to employment centres, education facilities and other services.

Orbital Railway Proposal

The second proposal involves an orbital railway providing connections between existing rail corridors and major activity centres without requiring all journeys to pass through central Perth.

An indicative route included in Infrastructure Australia's assessment shows connections between the Thornlie–Cockburn line, Murdoch, Booragoon, the University of Western Australia, Shenton Park, Stirling and Morley.

The proposed railway would improve cross-suburban travel and provide additional public transport options between residential areas, universities, employment centres and commercial districts.

Both rail concepts had previously appeared in the State Government's 2022 Infrastructure Strategy, which recommended further investigation of their feasibility.

However, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti confirmed that the State Government had not submitted the projects to Infrastructure Australia for inclusion on its priority list.

She said the Government's immediate railway priority remained the introduction of a high-capacity signalling system across Perth's existing passenger network.

The signalling project is intended to replace and upgrade existing train control infrastructure, allowing more frequent services and greater network capacity.

Infrastructure Australia's next assessment stage will involve identifying and comparing potential investment options before any detailed business case is prepared.

Responsibility for developing those options rests with the State Government.

As of October 2026, neither the East Wanneroo railway nor the proposed orbital railway had received construction approval, committed funding or a confirmed delivery timetable.