Latest news with #Transperth
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti blames Covid-19, Russian President Vladimir Putin for botched contactless payment upgrades
The West Australian government is under fire after it attributed blame for the botched installation of a contactless payment service for busses on Covid-19 and the invasion of Ukraine. Commuters in Perth were told that by 2019 they would be able to use bank cards to tap on and off of busses in the city. However, six years on, the system is well behind schedule and remains in the development phase. The delay prompted shadow transport minister Steve Martin to submit a question on notice, leading to the extraordinary attempt to shift blame from the state government. In response to Mr Martin's question a private secretary for Transport Minister Rita Saffioti claimed the delay was due to factors outside the government's control. 'The SmartRider Upgrade Project has been impacted by the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as well as software development issues,' the reply said. Mr Martin described the excuses as extraordinary. 'Is there anyone in the Cook ministry that is willing to take responsibility for any single delay, problem or budget blowout? With this mob it's always someone else's fault,' he said. 'What's the next excuse? The Minister's handling of the transport portfolio has become a farce.' A spokeswoman for WA's Public Transport Authority acknowledged the program had experienced 'some technical and resource challenges'. Those challenges included 'disrupted access' to a Ukraine-based software partner. 'This has been a complex task involving replacement of existing ticketing infrastructure while minimising impacts on Transperth operators and passengers,' the spokeswoman said. 'There has been significant testing of the new software and hardware to ensure that passengers receive the highest level of service.' WA is not the only state to experience major issues with rolling out a contactless pay system for public transport. An upgrade to the myWay platform is facing scrutiny in the Australian Capital Territory Assembly for a botched rollout which saw commuters unable to use cards, while the cost of upgrading New South Wales' Opal system has reportedly blown out to $738 million - up from $568 million. The Opal upgrade will also have taken five years to complete by the time it comes online in 2027. Similarly, in Victoria, an upgrade to the Myki card system has blown out to $680.3million.
ABC News
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
EV buses join Perth's wider suburban network, 'milestone' for diesel phase-out
The first fleet of electric buses has entered Perth's wider suburban network, with the WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti labelling it an important milestone in the government's push to phase out diesel. Eleven of the electric vehicles are ready to operate out of Transperth's Malaga depot, which is undergoing a $12 million upgrade to allow for the new infrastructure. Sixteen chargers have already been installed at the depot and a further 90 are expected to be added by the end of September. According to the government, the upgrade will see the depot become the state's largest EV bus charging complex, and has already included the installation of solar panels and batteries to power the facility. "A few weeks ago we announced the last diesel bus to come out of the Malaga depot in relation to its manufacture, so the last diesel bus produced in WA has already occurred." The minister said it was hoped the final diesel bus would exit the network by 2043. The electric buses use imported parts from Sweden, before being locally assembled at another facility in Malaga. Ninety of them set to be deployed across Perth over the next eight months. Each electric bus can travel up to 300 kilometres on a single charge, which the government said saved about 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. High frequency bus routes, like the 960 and 950, will be among the first to be serviced by the fleet at the Malaga depot, alongside routes passing through the Morley Galleria shopping centre and Ballajura and Morley train stations. An initial rollout of the vehicles began in Perth's CBD last September, with 18 added to the CAT Bus routes, which also saw Elizabeth Quay Bus Depot fitted out with new charging infrastructure. Ms Saffioti said EV upgrades to other depots were already underway, or planned for, at the Karrinyup and Claisebrook bus depots, with a new EV bus depot set for Bayswater. "Not only are electric buses cleaner and better for the environment, they're also cheaper to operate in the long term, which means better value for money for WA taxpayers," Ms Saffioti said. "It's 22,000 litres of diesel per bus per year, so massive savings." The Liberals said they would be watching the rollout of the new buses closely. "We are obviously looking to see how that rollout goes, noting there have been some concerning issues with the C-series trains that have been manufactured on this government's watch," shadow cabinet minister Liam Staltari said. Mr Staltari was referring to a recent union survey of train drivers that highlighted concerns over the comfort and braking ability of the C-series trains. In response, the Public Transport Authority said there were no braking issues on the trains, stating the C-Series had excellent acceleration and braking features. In parliament, Ms Saffioti defended the C-series and said there was always going to be an adjustment period for the drivers.
Courier-Mail
24-06-2025
- Courier-Mail
Transperth bus driver charged over fatality
Don't miss out on the headlines from WA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Transperth bus driver has been charged after he fatally struck a pedestrian outside of Perth Arena. A 45-year old man died when he was hit by a bus crossing Wellington St near the Milligan St intersection just after 6.15pm on Friday. He was treated at the scene by paramedics but could not be saved. The bus driver has been charged with careless driving causing death and will appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on July 18. Inspector Vic Hussey told 9News it was a confronting scene. 'It's a very, very sad scene here at the moment,' he said. The police have charged a man with careless driving causing death after a bus crash outside the Perth Arena on the weekend. Picture: Nine News Witnesses said the driver appeared distressed and was unable to speak in the immediate aftermath of the collision, while others nearby were seen crying on the street. The crash occurred as hundreds of people were arriving at the arena to watch a Super Netball clash between the West Coast Fever and Adelaide Thunderbirds, and as city workers were leaving their offices for the day. Residents have since raised concerns about pedestrian safety at the intersection. 'It's not nice, especially when it's so close to home, and when it's something that could have been avoided,' one resident said. 'I raised this with the police about two months ago because I almost got killed.' Originally published as Transperth bus driver charged after a pedestrian was struck and killed
Mercury
24-06-2025
- Mercury
Transperth bus driver charged over fatality
Don't miss out on the headlines from WA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Transperth bus driver has been charged after he fatally struck a pedestrian outside of Perth Arena. A 45-year old man died when he was hit by a bus crossing Wellington St near the Milligan St intersection just after 6.15pm on Friday. He was treated at the scene by paramedics but could not be saved. The bus driver has been charged with careless driving causing death and will appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on July 18. Inspector Vic Hussey told 9News it was a confronting scene. 'It's a very, very sad scene here at the moment,' he said. The police have charged a man with careless driving causing death after a bus crash outside the Perth Arena on the weekend. Picture: Nine News Witnesses said the driver appeared distressed and was unable to speak in the immediate aftermath of the collision, while others nearby were seen crying on the street. The crash occurred as hundreds of people were arriving at the arena to watch a Super Netball clash between the West Coast Fever and Adelaide Thunderbirds, and as city workers were leaving their offices for the day. Residents have since raised concerns about pedestrian safety at the intersection. 'It's not nice, especially when it's so close to home, and when it's something that could have been avoided,' one resident said. 'I raised this with the police about two months ago because I almost got killed.' Originally published as Transperth bus driver charged after a pedestrian was struck and killed
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bus driver charged over fatal collision
A Transperth bus driver has been charged after he fatally struck a pedestrian outside of Perth Arena. A 45-year old man died when he was hit by a bus crossing Wellington St near the Milligan St intersection just after 6.15pm on Friday. He was treated at the scene by paramedics but could not be saved. The bus driver has been charged with careless driving causing death and will appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on July 18. Inspector Vic Hussey told 9News it was a confronting scene. 'It's a very, very sad scene here at the moment,' he said. Witnesses said the driver appeared distressed and was unable to speak in the immediate aftermath of the collision, while others nearby were seen crying on the street. The crash occurred as hundreds of people were arriving at the arena to watch a Super Netball clash between the West Coast Fever and Adelaide Thunderbirds, and as city workers were leaving their offices for the day. Residents have since raised concerns about pedestrian safety at the intersection. 'It's not nice, especially when it's so close to home, and when it's something that could have been avoided,' one resident said. 'I raised this with the police about two months ago because I almost got killed.'
