Ms MacTiernan’s suggestion that the project be put on the agenda for Federal funding last week raised the ire of the local politician who said Ms MacTiernan’s attempt to sell a new service up to an hour faster than the Australind was a “cynical attempt to detract from her failure as Minister to properly maintain the Australind route.”

The fast train proposal would effectively spell the end of the Australind train service, but the existing rail line would continue to be used for freight transport.

The new train line would run down the centre of the Perth-Bunbury Highway and could reduce travel time between the two cities down to just 90 minutes instead of the current two-and-a-half hours.

But Mr Cowper said if Ms MacTiernan was serious about delivering better rail services she would have shown support for the Australind during her time as Infrastructure Minister.

“Murray-Wellington residents are now faced with an aging Australind which was all but forgotten by the previous Labor Government,” Mr Cowper.

“If it was not for Transport Minister Simon O’Brien, the Member for Bunbury and myself Ms MacTiernan would have succeeded in her plan to kill off the Australind completely.”

Mr Cowper disputed the need for “another over-budget and overdue Alannah Express debacle” and said a fast train would not be viable if it came at the cost of services to Byford, Mundijong, Serpentine, North Dandalup, Pinjarra, Waroona, Yarloop, Cookernup, Harvey and Brunswick Junction.

But Ms MacTiernan said the large number of stations on the Australind route was one of the major reasons behind the service’s slow running times.

“I know there is a lot of sentimental attachment to the Australind in the community,” she said.

“But it is not meeting the needs of the community.

“Now is the time to consider the next important stage of delivering first-class transport infrastructure for the south west.”