Perth Transport Plan signals extension of Thornline and Armadale lines

The plan has been announced to cater for a population of 3.5 million and has been developed over the past two years.

Perth’s present population is estimated to be just over two million.

The projects recommended for the south metropolitan area include the Thornlie rail line to be extended south-west to join with the Mandurah line at Cockburn Central, as well as the Armadale line extended to Byford.

It has also been recommended that Tonkin Highway is extended to Forrest Highway, south of Pinjarra.

The Public Transport Authority has identified 12 level crossings as the top priority for removal.

They are on the Fremantle, Midland and Armadale lines.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said high-frequency bus services running every five minutes were proposed from Fremantle to Armadale, Kwinana and Rockingham and from the Mandurah line stations in the Rockingham, Warnbro and Mandurah areas.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said Liberals just do not ‘get’ public transport. “Under their so-called plan they are not planning to build the rail extension through Canning Vale until 2031,” he said,

“The Liberals have no plans for the level crossings on the Armadale Line. No plans at all for the next 40 years. It’s ludicrous.

“It’s beyond belief that they think the Byford extension isn’t needed till 2050. Have they not seen the huge growth through this corridor?”