Thornlie Station set to reopen next month

After years of disrupted commutes, Thornlie Station is finally set to reopen marking a turning point for Perth’s southern commuters.

The reopening will be offering long-awaited relief to residents who have adapted to the absence of train use over the past two years.

As new infrastructure reshapes the area, locals are hopeful that this milestone will not only restore convenience but also drive economic and community growth.

This is part of the ongoing Building for Tomorrow campaign that focuses on conducting major upgrades to transport infrastructure around WA.

With the state government’s announcement of the Thornlie-Cockburn link reopening, residents are preparing to embrace a new era of connectivity.

As Perth’s first east-west crossline connection, the project introduces two additional stations, Nicholson Road and Ranford Road, which are both set to open on June 9.

Commuters traveling from Nicholson Road Station can expect around a 26-minute journey to Perth, while those departing from Ranford Road Station will reach the city in approximately 29 minutes.

This expansion is expected to transform daily travel, creating vital links between the southern suburbs and the heart of the city.

Southern suburbs reconnected

The expansion of the Thornlie-Cockburn link marks more than just an upgrade in transportation, it signals a broader transformation for the surrounding areas.

It is also expected to bring lasting benefits, strengthening connections between communities and enhancing accessibility to the city.

Livingston resident, Janet Gainsco, said she appreciates the government making new train stations.

“It’s mildly annoying because if you live up in Roleystone, catching public transport is very hard at the moment,” said Ms Gainsco.

“But once everything is done, it will be very cool.”

As anticipation builds for the opening of the new stations, local bus services are set to undergo a review to improve connectivity.

The planned adjustments aim to streamline routes, ensuring more convenient access to Nicholson Road and Ranford Road stations while reducing overall commute times for residents.

Canningvale resident, Simisola Oluojo, is looking forward to the opening of the new Ranford Road station.

“I think it’s a good initiative” she said.

“I moved to Canningvale when they started the project, and I feel it will be beneficial to us here”.

Both Mrs Oluojo and her husband work in the city, and they often face travel delays due to traffic and road congestion.

“Murdoch and Thornlie take about a 15-minute drive away from home, but the Ranford Road station is just 5 minutes away,” said Mrs Oluojo.

“It gives us more connecting routes and will reduce our commuting time,” she said.

Construction nears completion

While in anticipation of the reopening, Metronet Media Representative Caroline Wincza said that this will ease traffic and give commuters more choices while traveling into the city.

Ms Wincza said that considerations were put in place during construction to reduce the impact of rail noise for residents.

“More than 9km of noise walls will be installed,” she said.

Additionally, she said ballast matting will be installed under the new passenger and freight rail near residential properties to help reduce ground-borne noise and vibration.

As the Thornlie-Cockburn link nears completion, the final pieces of the project are falling into place.

The new line will stop at a dedicated platform at Cockburn Central, before turning back toward Thornlie, ensuring seamless connectivity for commuters.

While construction continues ahead of the official June opening, Metronet remains focused on delivering additional infrastructure projects set for completion later this year.

To celebrate this milestone, the government has planned a special weekend event, inviting families to experience the new transport link firsthand and explore the newly built Nicholson Road and Ranford Road stations.