Perth’s public transport network has reached another major milestone, with the official opening of the new METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Line — the city’s first east-west rail connection — alongside a transformed inner section of the Armadale Line.
The 17-kilometre Thornlie-Cockburn Line is now operational, creating a direct link between the Mandurah and Armadale lines for the first time. The project delivers new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road, plus significant upgrades to Thornlie, Cockburn Central, and Perth Stadium stations.
Commuters can now travel from Nicholson Road Station to Perth in just 27 minutes, and from Ranford Road Station in 31 minutes, with fares capped at the existing two-zone limit of $4.68 for SmartRider users. To support easy access, more than 1,400 parking bays and over 20 new bus routes — including 11 feeding Nicholson Road and Ranford Road — have been introduced.
WA Premier Roger Cook commented, “METRONET has transformed the face of Perth by making travel more affordable, taking cars off our roads and creating thousands of jobs over the past eight years.”
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“Through the new Thornlie-Cockburn Line and stations on the inner Armadale Line, we are giving people in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs more travel choices, addressing road congestion, and stimulating land development to help deliver well-planned and more liveable communities.”
The new line also improves access to Optus Stadium, providing a direct route for Mandurah Line passengers and improving network resilience during major events.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti described the Thornlie-Cockburn Line as a “significant boost” to Perth’s rail network.
“This new line will connect tens of thousands of people to a train line for the first time and provide a direct connection to Optus Stadium for people on the Mandurah Line,” she said.
Elevated inner Armadale Line section opens
In tandem with the Thornlie-Cockburn Line launch, the newly elevated inner section of the Armadale Line — stretching from Perth to Beckenham — has reopened, complete with five modern new stations at Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington, and Beckenham.
The elevated section is complemented by a seven-kilometre linear park known as Long Park, which will introduce new public spaces and amenities under the rail corridor in the coming months.
Transport Minister Saffioti highlighted the broader transformation underway across the Armadale Line.
“We’re building incredible new stations, removing dangerous level crossings, turning the rail corridor into parkland, and upgrading huge sections of track between Beckenham and Armadale,” she said.
The remainder of the Armadale Line — including the new Armadale and Byford stations — is on track to reopen in the coming months, with a formal date to be announced soon.
Continued free transport for impacted Armadale Line passengers
To support regular passengers still impacted by the ongoing closure of the southern Armadale Line, the State Government has committed $1.4 million in the upcoming Budget to extend free public transport until all stations reopen. The entitlement covers stations between Kenwick and Armadale.
Additionally, $21.4 million will be invested to permanently retain several popular replacement bus services introduced during the closure. This includes Route 529 between Armadale and Cockburn Central stations, Route 51 between Cannington and Perth Busport, and Route 36 between Cannington and Airport Central.
“This investment will ensure that free transport continues for everyone still impacted by the closure,” Minister Saffioti said.
