Lakelands train station: Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti open latest stop for Metronet

Hundreds of southern suburbs residents have flocked to the opening of Perth’s newest train station. Lakelands station, between Mandurah and Warnbro, was opened on Sunday morning by Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti amid a carnival-like atmosphere at a community open day. “This is just another example of Metronet coming to reality,” Mr Cook said. “When we have a station here at Lakelands it means that kids who are growing up here can think about that university course they want to attend further north. They can think about that job in the city they can get to in just a 50 minute commute time.” The new station will be serviced by five dedicated bus routes and a 400-bay carpark. After the opening ceremony Mr Cook, Ms Saffioti and other dignitaries joined locals traveling on the first train from Lakelands to Mandurah. Lakelands residents Arthur and Pauline Hoban said the new station would save them from driving seven kilometres south to Mandurah each time they wanted to take the train into central Perth. “Every time we shot through the Lakelands area (before the new station was built) we kind of wanted to jump off the train,” Mrs Hoban said. “We’re very very pleased now.” The first weekday city-bound service will leave Mandurah at 4:47am on Monday and arrive at Lakelands at 4.51am.