In short:
One of Perth's main passenger rail lines is shut as a major level crossing removal project continues.
While the government has done what it can to accommodate people who rely on public transport, the closure has nevertheless impacted those with a disability.
Nihal Iscel, who is blind, is perhaps one of those most heavily impacted and has moved home so she can continue accessing public transport.
When Nihal Iscel found out her local train line would shut for 18 months, she knew her life would become much more difficult, but didn't think she'd have to pack up her house and move.
Ms Iscel, who is blind, is perhaps one of those most heavily impacted by Perth's ongoing $13 billion Metronet rail build.
Train services between Armadale and Victoria Park closed in November to allow for the removal of 13 level crossings along major roads in Perth's south-east, and an extension to Byford.
At the time, Ms Iscel was living in a home she loved with great neighbours and a garden she cared for, but the loss of accessible transport at her doorstep was a deal breaker.
And while the government has done what it can to accommodate her, the closure has nevertheless had a significant impact on her life.
'I felt like I was trapped in my house'
Ms Iscel, who chairs People With Disabilities WA, was born with only two to three per cent sight and completely lost her vision in adolescence.
For her, accessible public transport offers her independence.
"It gives people that extra freedom to get around to be able to get jobs, socialise with their friends," she said.
"It's very, very important – if the transport is not accessible then you're stuck at home."
Bus services along the Armadale line have been bolstered to minimise disruption, but Ms Iscel said she would have had to walk through areas that were not accessible to her to reach them.
"For me to go out and catch the bus and go anywhere, it was just … I felt like I was trapped in my house," she said.
When Ms Iscel realised how difficult her life was going to be during the rail shutdown, she spoke with local and state governments about her options.
She was given access to a free taxi scheme to get her to and from her home, but found it to be unreliable.
"I got it in November and was using [the service] through December and January, but my issue was taxis wouldn't arrive on time," Ms Iscel said.
"And sometimes they didn't come at all."
So she made the bold decision to sell her home and move to an apartment the next suburb over that was close to shops and had a bus stop outside her doorstep.
"The only thing to do then for me was to sell the place and find somewhere more accessible," she said.
And as she settles in to her new home and finds her way around, the easy access to transport has made it all worthwhile.
Transport changes difficult to navigate
For disability support workers Trish Moulton and Michelle Connell, the shutdown has also had an impact on their clients in Perth's south-eastern edge.
The pair co-manage disability support service By Your Side Supports in Armadale.
"We have a few clients with psychosocial disabilities and that is generally … it comes out with anxiety around travel, around social engagement, and community access," Ms Moulton said.
"When they become familiar with a particular sequence or type of travel, it's very difficult all of a sudden to change."
Ms Connell also said some clients had struggled to afford support workers on alternative modes of transport.
"With the line down at the moment, they've had to seek alternatives which are outside of their scope and outside of their budget as well," she said.
Shutdown support available
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the government was working closely with people affected by the shutdown.
In a statement to the ABC, the government also said ensuring people with disability, including Ms Iscel, could continue using services during the shutdown was a "major consideration" in planning.
"Ms Iscel has received significant support and engagement from the Public Transport Authority and the Minister for Transport's office in the lead up to and during the Armadale Line shutdown," the statement read.
"This included the creation of a dedicated taxi scheme, which provides hundreds of dollars a week in taxi vouchers for those who are unable to use public transport during the shutdown due to various circumstances."
Back in her new home in Victoria Park, Ms Iscel is still memorising all of the corners and edges of her new apartment.
She knows she's made the right decision for her.
"It's very important to consider accessibility," she said.
"It should always come first."
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