Everything about Transperth totally explained
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in
Perth,
Western Australia. It is operated by the
Public Transport Authority.
History
The Transperth brand was launched in 1986 as part of a series of reforms integrating Perth's public bus, ferry and rail services. Initially Transperth services were coordinated by the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT), with MTT operating bus and ferry services itself and coordinating rail services operated by West Australian Government Railways (WAGR). In 1993 control of Transperth was transferred to the Department of Transport.
Services
Transperth currently serves the Perth metropolitan area from the Perth City, east to
Chidlow, west to
Fremantle, south to
Mandurah and north to
Two Rocks. These suburbs are divided into
nine fare-zones according to distance from the city centre.
Train
Transperth Trains operates Perth's suburban rail services. The system consists of 69 stations on five narrow-gauge lines, running to
Midland,
Armadale,
Fremantle, Clarkson (terminus of the
Joondalup line) and
Mandurah. Trains to
Thornlie run via a spur off the Armadale Line.
Services operate from 5:30 am until midnight (until 2:00 am Saturday and Sunday mornings), with a minimum 15-minute frequency until 7:30 pm and 30-minute until midnight. Post midnight services on Saturday and Sunday mornings operate on one-hour frequency. In 2005 the network accommodated 32.652 million passenger boardings.
The network has been served exclusively by
electric multiple unit railcars since it was electrified in the 1990s. Before that time diesel locomotive-hauled trains and
diesel multiple units were used.
Buses
Transperth oversees and regulates a bus service throughout the Perth metropolitan area and some fringe rural areas. Transperth buses are privately operated, but publicly owned.[ Routes follow two basic formats: feeder services between residential suburbs and railway stations, and routes directly to the CBD. There are also some cross-suburban services, most notably the
CircleRoute, which links numerous railway stations, shopping centres and universities. Additional services are provided for schools and special events.
Transperth's most frequent bus routes run from 6am to midnight with services generally every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on evenings and weekends. Most other local routes run either every 30 or 60 minutes, with reduced service on evenings and weekends. Services to and from railway stations are normally co-ordinated to connect with every, every second or every fourth train.
Transperth is currently purchasing
Mercedes-Benz OC500LE compressed natural gas-fuelled buses. They comply with the Euro 4 emission standard and operate on locally-produced Western Australian natural gas.
Ferries
Transperth operates a ferry service across the Swan River between
Barrack Street (Perth CBD) and the
South Perth foreshore. Services departs twice an hour, with an additional leg to
Coode St Jetty during peak periods. The ferry is popular with commuters and tourists who use it to get to the
Perth Zoo.
Ticketing
The methods and types of tickets used on the network continue to change with the progression of time and technology. Today, passengers on the network can either purchase a cash ticket from any
ticket vending machine at the station, or use a re-loadable
stored-value card known as
SmartRider.
Fares are calculated on a zone-based system starting from 2-sections to 8 Zones and charged at either Standard or Concession rates. Concession rates are available to children under the age of 15 years, persons over the age of 65 possessing a Senior's Card, students of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary schools possessing a SmartRider with valid concession status or valid Student ID with Student Pass sticker, and those in the receipt of various state and commonwealth pensions with acceptable proof of that status.
Some additional fare classes exist within the system and include:
| Fare type |
Details |
| Dayrider |
valid for all zones, all day (Only for purchase and use after 9am) |
| 24 hour SmartRider |
valid for 24 hours from the first tag on. (replacing the MA MultiRider) |
| Seniors SmartRider |
Available for seniors, valid for free travel on Sundays / Public Holidays or at Senior's week. (replacing the Senior MultiRider) |
| Student SmartRider |
Available for primary and secondary school students only. (replacing the Student MultiRider) |
Previous methods
In the early 1990s, the network changed over from the use of train conductors with old rotary paper ticketing units and installed self-service
ticket vending machines supplied by the
Switzerland-based company
Ascom. The same rotary units in place on buses were replaced with technology supplied by the
UK-based company Wayfarer Transit Systems.
Also at the same time, an upgraded version of the
pre-encoded multi-trip ticket system
MultiRider was introduced, also relying on technology from Wayfarer.
Improvements
In
March 2007, the
Public Transport Authority commenced a trial of upgraded
ticket vending machines installing two new units on the Eastern concourse at
Perth Station and all Mandurah Line Train Stations.
These trial units are based on touch-screen technology, and provide an expanded number of options including being able to purchase multiple quantities of tickets at the same time, as well as being able to pay using either notes or
Electronic funds transfer from a cheque or savings account using a
Debit card.
In 2007 the
MultiRider ticketing system was replaced with the
Smartrider ticketing system which uses contactless electronic ticketing system using
smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for
public transport.
The
SmartRider is a
credit card-sized
smartcard incorporating a microchip and internal aerial, allowing the smartcard to communicate with processors located on Transperth buses and ferries and at train stations. The microchip enables value to be loaded onto the card, as well as allowing the journey details to be recorded and the appropriate fare deducted from the stored value on the card.
Free Transit Zone
A feature of the network is an area in the central business district known as the Free Transit Zone (FTZ). Travel on all modes of public transport (bus,
CAT bus, and trains) within the FTZ zone is
free for all passengers.
The notable exception to this however is the rail network, where free travel within the zone is only available to passengers using a
SmartRider card. This wasn't always the case, but is now required due to changes in station structures brought about by the implementation of the SmartRider ticketing system.
TravelEasy
TravelEasy sends customers an email notification when there are disruptions and changes to their nominated services. The service was introduced in 2003. TravelEasy also provides a
SmartRider link facility, allowing customers to check card balances and add value.
The TravelEasy service will only e-mail subscribers for major significant disruptions, which are planned ahead. General day-to-day disruptions (technical difficulties, overheating engines etc.) which may cause delays of up to two hours won't be notified to travellers.
Operators
Bus
Train
Transperth Trains
Ferry
Captain Cook Cruises
Call centre
Serco AustraliaFurther Information
Get more info on 'Transperth'.
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