Transperth network: bus/train service integration

At a basic level all members of the community benefit from high levels of public transport use, particularly in peak periods. In Perth around 6 per cent of journeys are made by public transport, however for journeys to work in the Central Business District (CBD) the percentage is 56 per cent. These journeys to the CBD are arguably one of the greatest benefits to the community as a whole as they are primarily peak period trips operating when the demand on the road network is greatest. However, Perth is a typical Australian city. Its low density urban sprawl presents challenges for public transport provision that require a different approach to that of many other more densely populated cities of the world. This paper outlines the Perth public transport model and discusses the integration of public transport (bus-train-ferry) in Perth. In particular the paper focuses on how Transperth prioritises and achieves integration between services, primarily bus to bus and bus to train services. Central to this is the recognition of the importance of co-ordinating the system to allow passengers to connect between services to complete their journey. The paper discusses the operating procedures that are fundamental in making the connections between services as seamless as possible for the user. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E217330.