The Western Australian (WA) Government has announced the opening of the new Thornlie-Cockburn Link on 9 June 2025, a significant development within METRONET’s ongoing transformation of Perth’s transport infrastructure.
The 35km of new passenger rail and 22km of new freight rail include two new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road, with upgrades to existing stations, providing a direct route from the Mandurah Line to Optus Stadium for the first time.
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The construction of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link utilised 85,000 sleepers and 180,000 tonnes (t) of gravel.
Recent weeks have also seen progress on the Byford Rail Extension, with the completion of the entire elevated rail structure and the majority of rail and overhead line equipment installed.
Commuters will benefit from a 27-minute journey to Perth from Nicholson Road Station and a 31-minute journey from Ranford Road Station once the Thornlie-Cockburn Link is operational.
WA’s Public Transport Authority is finalising new and amended bus routes to support connections from surrounding suburbs to the new stations, taking into account community feedback.
The inner section of the Armadale Line will also reopen on 9 June, coinciding with the Thornlie-Cockburn Link’s inauguration.
This will include five new elevated stations at Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington, and Beckenham.
The Armadale Line’s removal of six level crossings and the introduction of elevated rail will improve pedestrian safety, reduce traffic congestion, and create a 7km-long linear park named ‘Long Park’.
The remainder of the Armadale Line, including the new elevated Armadale Station and Byford Station, is expected to reopen in the coming months, with the formal reopening date for the outer section to be announced shortly.
WA Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said: “The Thornlie-Cockburn Link will be a complete game changer for our public transport network.
“We’re going to connect tens of thousands of people to our world-class rail network for the first time and deliver a major boost to the capacity and resilience of our network by connecting the Armadale and Mandurah Lines for the first time.
“METRONET is transforming the face of Perth and making our city more connected than ever before. The opening of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link will be one of the biggest changes yet.”
Last December, the Ellenbrook Community Hub in Ellenbrook, WA, commenced construction, with a A$3.5m ($2.2m) commitment from the WA Government.
