Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 6, The Western Australian (WA) Government has set June 9, 2025, as the opening date for the Thornlie-Cockburn Link, a key part of METRONET’s overhaul of Perth’s transport system. This development includes 35 kilometers of new passenger rail and 22 kilometers of freight rail, featuring new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road, plus upgrades to existing stops. It will offer a direct route from the Mandurah Line to Optus Stadium for the first time.

The link is set to provide a direct route from the Mandurah Line to Optus Stadium for the first time.

Construction of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link used 85,000 sleepers and 180,000 tonnes of gravel. Recent progress on the related Byford Rail Extension includes finishing the elevated rail structure and installing most of the rail and overhead line equipment. Once operational, the new link will provide a 27-minute trip from Nicholson Road Station to Perth and a 31-minute journey from Ranford Road Station.

WA’s Public Transport Authority is refining bus routes to connect surrounding areas to the new stations, incorporating community input. On the same day, June 9, the inner section of the Armadale Line will reopen, featuring five new elevated stations: Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington, and Beckenham. This upgrade removes six level crossings, enhances pedestrian safety, reduces traffic delays, and creates a 7-kilometer linear park called ‘Long Park.’ The outer Armadale Line, including the elevated Armadale and Byford stations, will follow in the coming months, with an exact date to be confirmed soon.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti stated: “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.”

In a separate update, construction of the Ellenbrook Community Hub in Ellenbrook, WA, began last December, backed by a A$3.5 million ($2.2 million) investment from the WA Government. The Thornlie-Cockburn Link stands as a practical step toward improving Perth’s connectivity and transport efficiency.