Transperth
Encyclopedia
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.

History

The Transperth brand was launched in August 31, 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 Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....

 (WAGR) under the Westrail
Westrail
Westrail was the name of Western Australia’s public rail service between 1975 and 2000.It had its origins in 1877 as the Department of Works and Railways. This became Western Australian Government Railways in 1890 — a name that persisted for almost a century...

 brand. In 1993 control of Transperth was transferred to the Department of Transport.

Between 1994 and 1998 Transperth began contracting out
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider...

 its bus, ferry and customer service operations. Buses and ferries are now publicly owned but privately operated. On 1 July 2003 Transperth was again transferred, along with WAGR's passenger transport operations, to the newly formed Public Transport Authority
Public Transport Authority
The Public Transport Authority, or PTA, is a Western Australian statutory authority. It controls Transperth and Transwa. This authority is the most recently constituted body governing public transport in Western Australia...

.

Services

Transperth offers bus, train and ferry services which currently serve the Perth metropolitan area from the Perth City, east to Wundowie, west to Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...

, south to Mandurah
Mandurah, Western Australia
Mandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia and is located approximately south of the state capital, Perth.The city attracts a large number of tourists, including many international visitors...

 and north to Two Rocks. These suburbs are divided into nine fare-zones
Transperth fare zone
A Transperth fare zone is an area that is used by Transperth to determine fares. The fare zones are based around the distance from Perth City.Do not rely on this document for fare zone information. Use the instead....

 according to distance from the city centre.

Train

Transperth Trains
Transperth Trains
Transperth Trains is a division of the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. It is responsible for operating Perth’s urban passenger rail system, as part of the Transperth network.- Lines :...

 operates Perth's suburban rail services. The system consists of 70 stations on six 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 5:00am until midnight (until 2:00am on Saturday and Sunday mornings) with a minimum frequency of 2–15 minutes until 7:30pm and 30 minutes until midnight, 15 minutes weekday and weekend (including public holidays). Post midnight services on Saturday and Sunday mornings operate on one-hour frequency to 2.15am. A 4am service is currently undergoing a trial which will run until April. In 2005 the network accommodated 32.652 million passenger boardings.
This rose to 42.636 million boardings in 2007/08 and 54.750 million passenger boardings in 2008/09.
The network has been served exclusively by electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...

 railcars since it was electrified in the 1990s. Before that time diesel locomotive-hauled trains and diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...

s were used.

Buses

Unlike the Perth suburban train services, the bus services in Perth are operated by three companies, which are contracted with the Public Transport Authority
Public Transport Authority
The Public Transport Authority, or PTA, is a Western Australian statutory authority. It controls Transperth and Transwa. This authority is the most recently constituted body governing public transport in Western Australia...

, Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...

, under the Transperth brand name. This arrangement has been in place since 1996.

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.[5] Routes follow two basic formats: feeder services between residential suburbs and bus stations or bus\train interchanges, and routes directly to the CBD. There are also some cross-suburban services, most notably the CircleRoute. Additional services are provided for schools and special events. Transperth's most frequent bus routes run from 5am to midnight with services generally every 4–15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on evenings and weekends. Most other local routes run every 10 – 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.[6]

There were 65.694 million passenger boardings on Perth bus services in 2007/08, with an increase of 12.0% to 73.550 million passenger boardings in 2008/09.

Special services

CircleRoute: The CircleRoute is a cross suburban route that links numerous railway stations, shopping centres, universities, schools and the port town of Fremantle. Services run 5–15 minutes weekdays and 10–30 minutes weekends and public holidays.

CAT: Transperth operates CAT (central area transit) bus services around the Perth, Fremantle and Joondalup CBDs. Services run every 5 – 15 minutes on weekdays and every 15 – 30 minutes on weekends.

In Perth there are 3 routes:
  • Red CAT: Southern East Perth to West Perth route
  • Yellow CAT: Northern East Perth to West Perth route
  • Blue CAT: North to South


In Joondalup there are 2 routes:
  • Route 10: CBD loop (anticlockwise)
  • Route 11: CBD loop (clockwise)


And in Fremantle:
  • Orange CAT: Fremantle CBD loop.


NightRider: Transperth's late night bus service is NightRider, which leaves Fremantle Saturday nights hourly from 1-4am:
  • Route 697 to Como
  • Route 699 to Bullcreek


Airport services: Transperth operates a bus service to the airport:
  • Route 37 Kings Park to the Domestic Terminal


Transperth also operate school services and special event services.

Timetables

Timetables are colour coded: Northern timetables are green, Eastern timetables are red, South Eastern timetables are yellow, Southern timetables are orange, and Western timetables are blue. Timetables are numbered from 1 to 134, with gaps left at the end of each region for future expansion. Special services such as CAT buses are also colour coded, with Joondalup and Perth CAT timetables being grey, Fremantle CAT timetables orange, CircleRoute timetables pale blue/aqua, and Rockingham shuttles (Southern 127) orange with a dolphin on the front.

Ferries

Transperth operates a ferry service across the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....

 between Barrack Street (Perth CBD) and the South Perth foreshore. Services departs twice an hour and every 15 minutes during peak. The ferry is popular with commuters and tourists who use it to get to the Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo
The Perth Zoo is a zoo that opened in 1898 in South Perth, Western Australia. As of January 2011, it is home to 1258 animals of 164 species and includes an extensive botanical collection....

. There are currently two Transperth ferries, the 'Shelley Taylor-Smith' and the 'M/V Phillip Pendal,' which was named in a competition.

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
SmartRider
SmartRider is Transperth's contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport in Western Australia....

 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 will not be notified to travellers.

Google transit

Perth became the first city in Australia to use Google transit, whereby all bus stops/stations, train stations and ferry wharfs have a clickable symbol on Google Maps which reveals the next departures from that stop. Also, public transport is available as an option for Google Maps' directions feature.

Live train times

As of 10 December 2009, the TravelEasy users can view the live train times to see whether the train services is on time or not as well as live departure times. This service has now been made available to all commuters, and a cut-down version has been placed on 136213.mobi.

136213.MOBI

The 136213.MOBI service was launched at 10 June 2008. The service allows for public transport information, such as upcoming departures, service changes and SmartRider balances, to be obtained on a WAP-compatible mobile phone.

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 a train stations, from a ferry wharf, or bus driver or use a re-loadable stored-value card
Stored-value card
A stored-value card refers to monetary value on a card not in an externally recorded account and differs from prepaid cards where money is on deposit with the issuer similar to a debit card...

 known as SmartRider
SmartRider
SmartRider is Transperth's contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport in Western Australia....

.

Fares are calculated on a zone-based system starting from 2-sections to 9 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 60 possessing a Senior's Card, students of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary schools possessing a SmartRider with valid concession status, and those in the receipt of various state and commonwealth pensions with acceptable proof of that status. DayRider and FamilyRider tickets are also available. Passengers to some special events such as football matches can travel free with a valid ticket to the event.

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 on weekdays)
FamilyRider unlimited travel for 7 passengers (including 2 adults.) Available all day on weekends and public holidays, after 9am on school holidays, after 6pm Monday to Thursday (school days) and after 3pm Friday (school days)
Seniors SmartRider Available for seniors, valid for free travel on all days between 9am and 3.30pm, as well as weekends / Public Holidays and Senior's week. (replacing the Senior MultiRider
MultiRider
The MultiRider was a pre-purchased magnetic-stripe ticketing system used on rail, bus, and ferry services operated under the Transperth brand, either by or under contract for the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia...

)
Student SmartRider Available for primary and secondary school students as well as full time university students. (replacing the Student MultiRider
MultiRider
The MultiRider was a pre-purchased magnetic-stripe ticketing system used on rail, bus, and ferry services operated under the Transperth brand, either by or under contract for the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia...

)

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
Ascom (company)
Ascom Holding AG is a Telecommunications company specializing in "Mission-Critical Communication". The company focuses on the areas of Wireless Solutions , Network Testing as well as Security Communication Ascom Holding AG is a Telecommunications company specializing in "Mission-Critical...

. 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
Magnetic stripe card
A magnetic stripe card is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on the card...

 multi-trip ticket system MultiRider
MultiRider
The MultiRider was a pre-purchased magnetic-stripe ticketing system used on rail, bus, and ferry services operated under the Transperth brand, either by or under contract for the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia...

 was introduced, also relying on technology from Wayfarer.

Changes

In March 2007, the Public Transport Authority
Public Transport Authority
The Public Transport Authority, or PTA, is a Western Australian statutory authority. It controls Transperth and Transwa. This authority is the most recently constituted body governing public transport in Western Australia...

 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 optionally being able to pay using either notes or Electronic funds transfer
Electronic funds transfer
Electronic funds transfer is the electronic exchange or transfer of money from one account to another, either within a single financial institution or across multiple institutions, through computer-based systems....

 from a cheque or savings account using a Debit card
Debit card
A debit card is a plastic card that provides the cardholder electronic access to his or her bank account/s at a financial institution...

, dependent on these components being installed in the unit. These are now installed in all train stations in place of the older TVMs.

In 2007 the MultiRider
MultiRider
The MultiRider was a pre-purchased magnetic-stripe ticketing system used on rail, bus, and ferry services operated under the Transperth brand, either by or under contract for the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia...

 ticketing system was replaced with the Smartrider
SmartRider
SmartRider is Transperth's contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport in Western Australia....

 ticketing system which uses contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...

.

The SmartRider
SmartRider
SmartRider is Transperth's contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport in Western Australia....

 is a credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...

-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 buses and CAT buses
Perth Central Area Transit
The Perth Central Area Transit System , or simply CAT, is three bus routes in the centre of Perth, a bus route in Fremantle, and three bus routes in Joondalup. Also included is the Rockingham City Centre Transit System...

 within the FTZ zone is free for all passengers.

On the rail network, however, free travel within the zone is only available to passengers who have purchased a SmartRider
SmartRider
SmartRider is Transperth's contactless electronic ticketing system using smartcard technology for the process of charging patrons for public transport in Western Australia....

 card. This was not always the case, but is now required due to changes in station structures brought about by the implementation of the SmartRider ticketing system.

Proposals

A new 20 year rail expansion plan was released before the 2008 Western Australia state election by then-premier, Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...

. The plan includes a link to Ellenbrook via the Midland line, the extension of the Armadale Line to Byford, the extension of the Joondalup line to Yanchep, new stations on the Mandurah line, a spur rail to Perth Airport
Perth Airport
Perth Airport is an Australian domestic and international airport serving Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport....

, and new South West links, connecting other retail centres, hospitals, airports, universities and communities. The rough system map was to be released after the state election.

It has since been announced that the Joondalup Line will be extended from Clarkson to Butler by the end of 2014.

Roe Street Bus Bridge

In mid 2008, construction began on the $14 million Roe Street Bus Bridge, which was to be completed by early 2009. According to the signage displayed the bridge was to:
  • Return an extra lane on Roe Street to traffic
  • Remove the inefficient bus level crossing
  • Reduce travel time for 19,000 passengers
  • Connect Wellington Street Bus Station with Fitzgerald Street

However, the construction went over-time and over-budget and in July 2009 the Public Transport Authority
Public Transport Authority
The Public Transport Authority, or PTA, is a Western Australian statutory authority. It controls Transperth and Transwa. This authority is the most recently constituted body governing public transport in Western Australia...

 announced the bridge and modifications to James and Fitzgerald streets would not be finished until early 2010, with a $2 million cost blowout. As of December 2010, the buses that previously used the railway crossing near Harbour Town now travel via the new bridge

2031 Plan

The State Government is currently drawing up plans for an expansion of the rail network, construction of a light rail network, and creation of rapid transit bus services. The plan includes:
  • Extending the Joondalup line to Yanchep
  • Building a spur line to the airport
  • Constructing at least one new station on the Mandurah line at Karnup
  • Constructing a light rail network to serve the CBD, Curtin University, UWA, Subiaco, QEII Medical Centre, Mirrabooka and Stirling
  • Creating a rapid transit bus network.

Other long term plans include extending the Armadale line to Byford and connecting the Thornlie line to the Mandurah line at Cockburn Central.

Operators

Bus
  • Path Transit
    Path Transit
    Path Transit is a transport company operating 320 buses in Perth, Australia since 1996.It has depots in :* Bayswater* MalagaPath Transit also provides rental of vehicles for private functions.-Vehicles:...

  • Swan Transit
    SWAn transit
    Swan Transit is a private bus operator whose primary purpose is to provide commuter bus services in and near the city of Perth, Western Australia. It is part of Transit Systems Australia.-History:...

  • Southern Coast Transit
    Southern Coast Transit
    Southern Coast Transit, established in 1995, is a transport company that has operated 320 buses in south-western Perth, Australia since 1996 under contracts with the Department of Transport / Public Transport Authority.-History:...



Train
  • Transperth Trains
    Transperth Trains
    Transperth Trains is a division of the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. It is responsible for operating Perth’s urban passenger rail system, as part of the Transperth network.- Lines :...



Ferry
  • Captain Cook Cruises


Call centre
  • Serco Australia

See also

  • List of Perth railway stations
  • List of Perth bus stations
  • List of Perth bus routes
  • Transwa
    Transwa
    Transwa is Western Australia's regional public transport provider, linking 275 destinations within Western Australia, from Kalbarri in the north to Augusta in the south to Esperance in the east along with the regional centres of Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Northam, Geraldton and Albany.Transwa is...

     - also run by the Public Transport Authority, controls public transport in Western Australia, outside Perth.
  • TransGoldfields
    TransGoldfields
    TransGoldfields is a public bus service in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, owned and maintained by Eastern Goldfields Transport Board. In 2005, the company was upgraded thanks to funding from the state government...

     - public bus service in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
  • Northern Suburbs Transit System
    Northern Suburbs Transit System
    The Northern Suburbs Transit System is the name given to the project initiated and funded by the Government of Western Australia to provide high-speed passenger rail services to the northern corridor of metropolitan Perth, the capital city of Western Australia...

     - rail network expansion project from the late 1980
  • New MetroRail
    New MetroRail
    New MetroRail was a division of the Public Transport Authority in Western Australia. It was responsible for managing extensions to Perth's railway network...

    - second rail network expansion project

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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