Latest news with #Transperth
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Thousands slapped with fines for failing to tap SmartRider during free Sunday travel on trains and buses
Almost 7000 people have been stung with $100 fines for using public transport during times when it was supposed to be free. New data revealed under Parliamentary questioning shows 6668 fines — more than 100 a week — were issued for ticketing issues since the start of the free travel in February 2024. The almost $700,000 in fines were doled out because people failed to tag on with their SmartRider to use the train or bus on Sundays — a requirement to travel for free as part of the Government's program. But those stung on Sundays haven't been the only passengers caught out, with more than 1000 students fined for failing to tag on under free travel to and from school. And over the 'free' summer period, more than 1100 people were also slapped with a ticket. The cash-grab comes after the 'fines for travelling free' issue was raised during the State election campaign, with both the Liberals and the Greens calling for the infringements to be waived. The Public Transport Authority's response to shadow transport minister Steve Martin's questions said the Sunday fines were only 0.143 per cent of passengers. 'Passengers always require a valid ticket to travel on Transperth services, unless stated otherwise. The condition for free travel on Sundays is the use of a SmartRider,' the answer said. To access the free travel, passengers must tag on with a SmartRider, which can be purchased for $10, before requiring value added to the card. Mr Martin criticised the fines issued by the Public Transport Authority. 'Labor's free public transport on Sunday obviously isn't free for everyone,' he said. 'Labor are handing out over 100 fines to travellers on public transport every Sunday despite claiming to offer free transport. 'Transport Minister Rita Saffioti is also clearly embarrassed by the amount of fines because she refused to answer questions on how much Western Australians are paying.' Ms Saffioti said she believed the message was getting through to travellers about the need for a SmartRider. 'This is a part of the package — free public transport on Sunday, free public transport for kids going to school and we had the free summer of public transport. 'It's getting through. Most people have SmartRiders. People accept there's rules when you undertake free public transport, and that's one of the rules. 'We've introduced a range of initiatives. It's about getting people mobile, connected to their community, getting people out and about, and using our wonderful public transport system.' Ms Saffioti spoke about the fines at the unveiling of the last diesel-powered Transperth bus, which will roll out of a Malaga factory on Wednesday. Under a Labor election commitment, all future buses made in Western Australia will be electric, with Ms Saffioti saying the diesel fleet would be slowly phased out over the next two decades. The new electric buses will be rolled out once local depots are upgraded with electric vehicle chargers. The first will be Malaga, with Karrinyup following afterwards and then Claisebrook. 'This is a very big initiative for the state. It means there's far less CO2 emissions, and every diesel bus on the network uses around 22,000 litres of diesel fuel each year,' she said. 'That equates to around 40 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 'Electric busses, of course, emit no CO2 emissions, and as we continue to work to decarbonise the entire electricity system, we know that this is going to be cleaner and cleaner through the future.'
The Age
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
Perth public transport: Why are WA's diesel buses about to go extinct?
The last diesel Transperth bus will enter service on Wednesday, marking the advent of electric buses that will slowly replace the entire 1800-strong fleet over the next two decades. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Premier Roger Cook toured the final bus 'TP3608' at the Volgren bus manufacturing facility in Malaga on Wednesday morning. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti in the last ever diesel bus to be manufactured in WA - TP3608. Credit: Hamish Hastie About 18 electric buses are already travelling routes in the Perth CBD and Joondalup, where depots have been geared up for their charging requirements. The next tranche of buses will head to suburban routes, with charging infrastructure soon to be complete at the Malaga depot.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Peak-hour chaos as bus collides with car, passenger hurt
The crash on Riverside Drive this morning, Credit: Main Roads WA A passenger has been taken to hospital after a Transperth bus collided with a car in the Perth CBD. St John WA, WA Police and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the scene on Riverside Drive, near Victoria Avenue, about 7am on Tuesday. One of those inside the car — a man in his 40s — was hurt and taken to Royal Perth Hospital. Another car passenger — believed to be a woman in her 30s — was treated for injuries at the scene. There were no passengers inside the Transperth bus. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The crash is causing peak-hour traffic chaos, with Riverside Drive eastbound at Victoria Avenue closed. Drivers have been warned of delays and have been told to seek an alternative route.
