Local MPs Chris Tallentire, Yaz Mubarakai and Terry Healy at the Nicholson Road site.
Camera IconLocal MPs Chris Tallentire, Yaz Mubarakai and Terry Healy at the Nicholson Road site. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

State Govt starts planning for Thornlie train line extension

Ben SmithComment News

THE State Government has officially started the planning process for its Metronet scheme, heralding the start of the Thornlie train line extension.

Premier Mark McGowan promised to extend the Thornlie line to Cockburn ahead of March’s State Election.

The commitment involves building two new Canning Vale stations on Nicholson and Ranford roads in order to connect the Thornlie line to the Mandurah line.

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At the end of March, the new Government formally requested relevant government departments to start developing plans for the project.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019, with the stations expected to be completed and ready for use in 2021.

Southern River MLA Terry Healy said his electorate had been crying out for more train stations for years.

“We’ve got a huge population growth here; it’s been long overdue for the community,” he said.

“It was always Labor’s plan to build this line, but we’ve been out of government.

“Labor is the only party who builds this sort of infrastructure.”

Mr Healy said he and fellow MPs Chris Tallentire (Thornlie) and Yaz Mubarakai (Jandakot) were briefed on the project in recent weeks.

“The steering group has met across a number of the departments, we’ve instructed them to move forward with our timeline and our plans,” he said.

“We went through some temporary site plans last Friday, looking at parking and where the flow is.”

He said the Government hoped to announce community consultation sessions as soon as possible.