The North Dandalup train station will share in upgrades worth $1.28 million as part of the state government's election commitment to improve transport in the South-West.
Work will begin next month to upgrade both the North Dandalup and Cookernup train stations and are expected to be completed early in 2020.
The station upgrades will feature new shelters, a ramp or stairs to improve accessibility and seating for three people in an effort to improve passengers travelling experience.
Upgrades will also be made to the existing low-level platforms, raising the platforms so they are fully compliant with Disability and Discrimination Act standards.
Two car bays and one ACROD bay, line marking and bollards, new kerbing and bitumen surfaces will also be installed.
The state government also announced Alstom as the preferred proponent to deliver 246 new rail cars, including six diesel rail cars for the Australind line.
The $1.6 billion project will bring rail car manufacturing back to WA over the next decade with at least 50 per cent of the rail cars required to be made locally as part of the policy, creating new jobs in construction and maintenance.
WA transport minister Rita Saffioti was joined by Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke and Bunbury MP Don Punch at the North Dandalup train station on Monday to make the announcement.
Ms Saffioti said the Australind was a particularly important train service for residents in the South-West.
"We are continuing to deliver on our election commitments in the South-West region with upgrades to North Dandalup and Cookernup stations getting underway next month," she said.
"The Australind service has been neglected for too long, but will finally get the attention it deserves under the McGowan Labor government."
Upgrades to the rail cars and the train stations will make a big difference for local residents - making their journeys quicker and safer.
- Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke
While the design details are still being finalised, the Australind rail cars are expected to have comfortable seats, wifi, USB connectivity, facilities to store bicycles and a kiosk available for purchase of refreshments and snacks.
It is anticipated the new rail cars will also be much more efficient and more aesthetically pleasing.
Ms Saffioti said the state government would now consider a number of changes to the Australind service after thorough investigation.
"This give us more flexibility to increase the number of services and more trains to be able to run on this service," she said.
"We will look at maybe timetabling an express service but we have to make sure we don't decrease or have any impacts on another routes or stations but will see if we can add additional services.
"As well as upgrades to the station, we're also investigating what we can do to the track."
Ms Clarke said the rail car and train station upgrades would have a variety of positive impacts including a boost to tourism and employment.
"Upgrades to the rail cars and the train stations will make a big difference for local residents - making their journeys quicker and safer," she said.
"This is going to make it so much easier for the people of Murray-Wellington to get to and from their towns up to Perth or down to Bunbury and there are so many beautiful towns along the line.
"Reliable, well planned transport options benefit our tourism industry, increase education and employment options for our communities, keeping local jobs for locals."
North Dandalup Community Group coordinator Sheree Chapman welcomed the news that the local train station would be getting an upgrade.
"It is creating more accessibility for people to come to North Dandalup," she said.
"We've got some awesome bush bike tracks, hiking tracks so we can bring more people here and everyone can get to see what's good about it."
Ms Chapman said she would like to see a safe railway crossing be built as part of the upgrades to the North Dandalup train station to help families walk from one side of town to the other.
"That would be amazing and it's really important for our community to grow in a safe way," she said.
"If there's already going to be upgrades happening, it will be perfect to add that on to it as well because getting kids to and from school and the town centre is imperative for us as parents and care givers."
The target delivery date for the new Australind railcars is 2022-23, subject to final negotiations with the contractor.
