New Rail Network Opens, Upgrades Connectivity with Perth

After years of detailed planning, complex construction and collaborative delivery, Perth’s first east-west cross line connection recently opened in Australia.

Delivered by CPB Contractors as part of the NEWest Alliance, the Thornlie-Cockburn Line is a city-shaping transport link that will, for the first time, provide a direct connection from the Mandurah Line to Optus Stadium. The project marks a major milestone in the expansion of Perth’s rail network.

The Thornlie-Cockburn Line includes:

• Two new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road
• Upgrades to Thornlie, Cockburn Central and Perth Stadium stations
• Enhanced passenger connections via elevated platforms and new canopies
• New track infrastructure and twin tunnels
• Integration with the existing Mandurah and Armadale Lines.

Opening in conjunction with the new line is the inner section of the Armadale Line, of which CPB Contractors has played a leading role in the construction of the Oats Street and Cannington Stations.

Throughout delivery, the project has achieved several significant engineering and sustainability milestones that highlight the capability of the CPB Contractors team:

• Australia’s largest bridge beams were installed at Ranford Road Bridge, each weighing over 197 tonnes
• A micro-tunnel boring machine named Jana was used to drill twin tunnels under the existing freight rail corridor near Ranford Road Bridge
• Five steel trusses were installed beneath the Canning River bridge to support structural integrity
• A station platform extension and canopy installation was completed at Cockburn Central Station to accommodate increased passenger flow
• The team completed the Glen Iris Tunnel track slabs, enabling installation of the passenger rail above
• Track works were laid across the new line, connecting it to the broader network
• A significant sustainability milestone was achieved, with over 27,200 tonnes of recycled materials used, including steel reinforcement, concrete, ballast, limestone blocks and plastic pipes
• First concrete pours marked the development of Ranford Road Station, while the old Thornlie Station platform was demolished to make way for its upgraded replacement.

In early 2025, the first test trains traveled the line, signifying the final stages of commissioning.