Thornlie line

Thornlie line
View from bridge of two railway tracks merging into one as they leave the station
Thornlie line at Thornlie station viewed from the Spencer Road bridge, January 2021
Overview
StatusTemporarily closed
OwnerPublic Transport Authority
LocalePerth, Western Australia
Termini
Stations1 (branch)
Service
TypeSuburban rail
SystemTransperth
Operator(s)Transperth Train Operations
Depot(s)Claisebrook railcar depot
Rolling stockTransperth A-series trains
History
CommencedMid-2004
Opened7 August 2005 (2005-08-07)
Closed20 November 2023 (2023-11-20)
ReopenedMid-2025 (planned)
Technical
Line length2.9 km (1.8 mi) (branch)
Number of tracks1 (branch)
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
SignallingFixed block signalling
Train protection systemAutomatic train protection
Route map

Perth Underground
0.0
Perth Transwa
0.7
McIver
Claisebrook depot
1.3
Claisebrook
3.3
Perth Stadium
4.6
Burswood
6.1
Victoria Park
7.4
Carlisle
8.1
Oats Street
11.3
Queens Park
12.2
Cannington
13.6
Beckenham
17.0
Thornlie
Nicholson Road
Ranford Road
Cockburn Central

The Thornlie line is a temporarily closed suburban railway line and service in Perth, Western Australia, operated by the Public Transport Authority as part of the Transperth system. The Thornlie line is a branch of the Armadale line which opened on 7 August 2005 and runs for 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi) parallel to the Kwinana freight railway between the Armadale line at Kenwick and Thornlie station. Thornlie line services continued north of Kenwick along the Armadale line to Perth station, stopping at most stations, in contrast to Armadale line services, which skipped most stations along that section. The Thornlie line has been suspended since 20 November 2023 due to construction work; it is planned to reopen in mid-2025.

The Thornlie line originated from initial plans for the Mandurah line, which was to branch off the Armadale line and run along the Kwinana freight railway. The Mandurah line's planned route changed in 2001, but not before tunnels were built for the line to exit the Armadale line at Kenwick and enter the Kwinana Freeway. It was decided to build the Thornlie line instead as a one-station branch of the Armadale line. The main construction contract was awarded to Barclay Mowlem in 2004 and the Thornlie line opened on 7 August 2005.

Since 2017, there have been plans to extend the Thornlie line by 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) to Cockburn Central station on the Mandurah line, known as the Thornlie–Cockburn Link. This project is currently being built as part of Metronet and involves the construction of two new stations. The main construction contract was awarded to a joint venture between CPB Contractors and Downer in December 2019 at a cost of A$716 million. Construction started in 2020 and the extension was expected to be open in 2023. The cost has since increased to $1.352 billion. Since 20 November 2023, the Thornlie line has been temporarily closed to allow for works on the Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal Project and the Thornlie–Cockburn Link. The line is planned to reopen in mid-2025, upon which the Thornlie–Cockburn Link is expected to open as well.