Western Australians are about to ride into a new era of public transport, as the long-awaited Thornlie-Cockburn Link officially opens on Monday, June 9.
The project marks the city’s first east-west rail connection, linking the Mandurah and Armadale Lines for the first time.
It is part of the broader METRONET program, aimed at improving public transport across Western Australia and providing some long-overdue relief to busy local roads.
The new line includes two new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road, along with upgrades to Thornlie, Cockburn Central, and Perth Stadium stations.
For passengers, the changes will mean shorter and more direct trips.
The journey from Nicholson Road to Perth will take about 27 minutes, and around 31 minutes from Ranford Road.
The new link is expected to benefit growing communities in Perth’s south-east.
“We’re going to connect tens of thousands of people to our world-class rail network,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. “It will also boost the capacity and resilience of the system.”
The Public Transport Authority (PTA) is finalising a set of new and revised bus routes to feed into the new stations. These changes are based on public feedback, with final details to be announced before the opening.
The construction effort involved 35 kilometres of new passenger rail, 22 kilometres of freight rail, 85,000 sleepers, and 180,000 tonnes of gravel.
Alongside the new link, the inner section of the Armadale Line will reopen on June 9, following an extended shutdown.
Five new elevated stations will come online at Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington, and Beckenham.
The elevated rail has allowed for the removal of six level crossings in the Victoria Park and Canning areas. This is expected to improve safety and reduce traffic delays. A new seven kilometres linear park, named Long Park, has also been created beneath the rail line.
The outer section of the Armadale Line, including stations at Sherwood, Challis, Kelmscott, Seaforth, Gosnells, Maddington, and Kenwick, will reopen in the coming months.
These works are tied to the completion of the new Armadale and Byford Stations.
Rail replacement buses will continue to operate until the entire Armadale Line is open.
From June 9, most of these buses will terminate at Cannington Station, where passengers can connect to the train.
Updated timetables will be released closer to the date.
Passengers currently receiving free public transport due to the closure will continue to do so until their usual station reopens.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the Thornlie-Cockburn Link would have lasting benefits.
“This project connects the Mandurah Line to the Armadale Line for the first time,” she said. “It will help make communities better connected.”
The new line is expected to reduce congestion, cut travel times, and offer a reliable alternative to driving for thousands of commuters.
Federal MP Matt Keogh said the link will, especially, help residents in the fast-growing suburbs of Canning Vale, Harrisdale, and Southern River.
A community celebration will be held on Sunday, June 8, to mark the opening of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
More information will be provided closer to the date. A second community event will follow later this year to celebrate the full reopening of the Armadale Line.
The Thornlie-Cockburn Link ($1.3 billion) and the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project ($1.6 billion) are jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.
