Perth’s southern suburbs have two major new rail projects open and running. The Thornlie-Cockburn Line and the elevated section of the Armadale Line are now operational, giving faster, more direct transport options to thousands of commuters and improving links across the city.
The 17-kilometre Thornlie-Cockburn Line is the first time Perth has had a direct east-west rail connection between the Mandurah and Armadale lines. It adds two new stations—Nicholson Road and Ranford Road—and upgrades to Thornlie, Cockburn Central and Perth Stadium stations.
For the first time, passengers on the Mandurah Line have a direct train to Optus Stadium. This means more trains can run for major events, cutting travel time and pressure on other parts of the network. Journeys to Perth will take around 27 minutes from Nicholson Road and 31 minutes from Ranford Road. Fares stay low, with the current two-zone cap holding at $4.68 with a SmartRider.
New parking and bus routes have been added to support the changes. Across the three new stations, 1,400 parking bays are now available. More than 20 new bus routes are running, 11 of them feeding directly into Nicholson Road and Ranford Road stations.
The project required major construction work, including laying over 84,000 sleepers and moving a 22-kilometre freight line. More than 180,000 tonnes of gravel were used, and over 1,600 jobs were created during the build.
The new line links straight into the eight-kilometre elevated section of the Armadale Line. This includes five new stations—Carlisle, Oats Street, Queens Park, Cannington and Beckenham. The raised track opens up space underneath for new public areas, with finishing works still underway.
That space, known as Long Park, will stretch seven kilometres and include walking paths, green space and facilities for community use. The stations are now open; work under the tracks will finish in the coming months.
The elevated Armadale section supported over 4,300 jobs during construction. It is part of a wider upgrade to the entire line, with the rest expected to reopen later this year. This will include new stations at Armadale and Byford, plus reopened stations at Sherwood, Challis, Kelmscott, Seaforth, Gosnells, Maddington and Kenwick.
Premier Roger Cook said the openings mark a big shift for the city. He pointed to job creation, more affordable travel, and better links across growing suburbs as key outcomes. He also highlighted new policies like capped fares and expanded ferry routes as part of a broader plan to give people more transport options.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the new lines show what’s possible when state and federal governments work together. She said the new routes will support access to jobs and services in fast-growing areas.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the projects were delivered fast—just under three years for the Thornlie-Cockburn Line, and 18 months for the elevated Armadale section. She said the new links will boost the resilience of the rail network, create easier ways to get around and support future development in the areas they serve.
She also thanked local communities for their patience during construction, especially with the disruption to the Armadale Line.
Federal MP Matt Keogh said the projects bring real improvements for residents in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs. He said the upgrades to rail and buses will make everyday travel easier and more reliable.
The changes are expected to shift travel patterns. People now have faster ways to reach the city, the stadium and other key destinations. The direct east-west link cuts out transfers and brings rail access to parts of the suburbs that didn’t have it before.
The under-track space along the elevated Armadale Line is being turned into a public space, adding more value to what would otherwise be leftover land. The goal is to blend transport and community use, not just move trains more efficiently.
As the rest of the Armadale Line comes back into use later this year, the final stage of this round of METRONET work will wrap up. Other projects under the METRONET umbrella—such as the Byford extension and expansions to Yanchep and Ellenbrook—are still progressing.
For now, commuters in Perth’s south have new trains, new stations, better connections and shorter wait times. The network is growing, and it’s happening above ground as much as below.
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