It was the terminus of the Thornlie line, a spur of the Armadale Line, seventeen kilometres (11 mi) from Perth Station serving the suburb of Thornlie, Western Australia.

In December 1999, legislation was tabled by the Government of Western Australia to build the Southern Suburbs Railway from a junction with the Armadale line east of Beckenham Station passing beneath Albany Highway, Roe Highway and the Kwinana freight line via the Kewdale Tunnel, then paralleling the freight line south to Jandakot before continuing via the median strip of the Kwinana Freeway.

However, in 2002, following a change in government, the Southern Suburbs Railway was altered to operate via a more direct route to Perth.

[2] To justify the completion of Kenwick Tunnel and other infrastructure, the route was converted into a short spur line to Thornlie.

Modifications to occur include extending the two existing 100-metre (330 ft) long platforms to 150 metres (490 ft), to accommodate six car trains; construction of a concourse to link the two platforms, with lifts and stairs; modifications to the station's car park; changing the shared bike and pedestrian path, moving and replacing bicycle facilities; upgrading toilets, staff amenities, services and systems to modern standards; and replacing the nearby Western Power electricity substation.