NEWS
WA
The WA Government has vowed to get more people on Perth’s trains.
WA spending to advertise public transport
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We all know Perth people love their cars but there are times when driving can be frustrating
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$1.25 MILLION WILL BE SPENT TO ATTRACT more people to Perth’s public transport network, with motorists urged to take a break from driving by catching the train or bus. Premier Mark McGowan and transport minister Rita Saffioti say recent data showed a decline in public transport use, which began in 2013, was reversed in the McGowan Government’s first year, with a 0.74 per cent increase in overall patronage reported in 2018. Patronage is still far below what the State Government would like, however. “Prior to 2013, total patronage on our network had nine years of consecutive growth,” McGowan said. “Since then, the ongoing decline in public transport use across our suburbs has meant more cars are on our roads. Cars are crucial to the lives of so many Western Australians … however our public transport system is of a high quality and with a host of new Metronet projects underway, public transport is going to be an even bigger player as our city continues to evolve.” Metronet is the McGowan Government’s collection of urban rail projects, including new rail lines and extensions, new stations,
ISSUE 2 2019 | RAIL EXPRESS
level crossing removals, new rollingstock and more. It has received federal funding at various stages so far. “Metronet will transform public transport across our suburbs, connecting people to jobs, entertainment and services,” the premier said. “I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t used Transperth services in a while to consider how they can make their own journeys easier using our existing services.” The advertising campaign will look to attract new and lapsed users to the network, which reportedly receives satisfied or very satisfied feedback for around nine in every ten passenger trips. “This campaign is about encouraging people to give buses or trains a go when a car doesn’t stack up,” Saffioti said. “We all know Perth people love their cars but there are times when driving can be frustrating. In 2018, we finally saw an end to the decline in Transperth patronage but we still have a way to go to get back to previous levels. This campaign investment was an election commitment, and is about getting people back on board public transport and to help increase fare revenue back to the State.”
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