Liberal backbencher Peter Abetz wants the Government to commit to construction of a rail line linking Cockburn and Thornlie within five years.

This was in advanced design when it was dropped by Alannah but the design has allowed for the extension. The tunnel exists in the chord, the Mandurah line track and overhead design allowed for high speed turnouts and the corridor is there to keep freight and passenger separate. It is nominally a double stack route so overheads will not be welcome. The big ticket item was the oil pipeline which would have to be lowered. I remember it being said at the time that running to Perth was better for "the workers", though Abetz points out that Cannington interchange would be more useful to many.

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