❓ A parliamentary question regarding the capacity of school bus services between Ellenbrook and schools in the Midland/Swan Valley area, with the Minister responding that Transperth believes capacity is adequate, but offering to investigate specific overloading issues.
AnsweredQoN 1916Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to school bus services between Ellenbrook and schools in the Midland/Swan Valley area. Can the Minister please advise -
(1) Is the existing capacity sufficient to accommodate the number of students needing to use the service?
(2) Does any overcrowding or inability to transport some students to and from school ever occur?
(3) If so, on how many occasions since the beginning of the 2004 school year has this occurred?
(4) If such overcrowding or inability to transport students has occurred this school year, what action is being taken to alleviate the problem?
(5) Is it expected that the demand for this service will increase, decrease or remain stable during the school year, and for what reasons?
(6) If so, how does this reconcile with the Government’s stated intention to increase school retention rates?
(1) Is the existing capacity sufficient to accommodate the number of students needing to use the service?
(2) Does any overcrowding or inability to transport some students to and from school ever occur?
(3) If so, on how many occasions since the beginning of the 2004 school year has this occurred?
(4) If such overcrowding or inability to transport students has occurred this school year, what action is being taken to alleviate the problem?
(5) Is it expected that the demand for this service will increase, decrease or remain stable during the school year, and for what reasons?
(6) If so, how does this reconcile with the Government’s stated intention to increase school retention rates?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 May 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
30 days
Transperth considers it has adequate capacity on the services that cater for students travelling from Ellenbrook to schools in the Midland and Swan Valley area. However, it is difficult to address this question in absolute detail without an indication of the particular services or the school. For example students could be travelling to any number of schools such as Swan Christian College, Guildford Grammar, Governor Stirling, La Salle College or Saint Brigids School. The Minister is advised by Transperth that there are a number of ways that children from the Ellenbrook area travel to schools in the Midland and Swan Valley district. Some use the Route 335 service that operates directly from Ellenbrook to Midland, while other students use a combination of Route 337 between Ellenbrook and Bassendean Station and use the train or one of the school specials to access schools in the Midland area. Students from the Ellenbrook area also travel on Transperth’s Route 336 services to schools in the Morley area. Patronage figures from the ticketing system indicate that in the morning, the Route 335 service averages 38 passengers and the afternoon trip averages 54 passengers. The Number 6 School Special from Governor Stirling in the afternoon carries an average of 45 passengers. The number of students varies from day-to-day and it is acknowledged that on some days students might be required to stand on these services for a portion of the journey. This is no different to the situation on public transport at busy times throughout the Perth metropolitan area, where students have access to regular or appropriately timed Transperth services or access to Transperth special school bus services. It is worth noting that a specific census of all bus services from Swan Christian High School on Thursday 11 March 2004 indicated that all students were accommodated. If the Hon Member is aware of a particular overloading issue from a school, the Minister would be happy to have Transperth look at what can be done to ensure that all students are carried. (5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
The Minister is advised by Transperth that there are a number of ways that children from the Ellenbrook area travel to schools in the Midland and Swan Valley district. Some use the Route 335 service that operates directly from Ellenbrook to Midland, while other students use a combination of Route 337 between Ellenbrook and Bassendean Station and use the train or one of the school specials to access schools in the Midland area. Students from the Ellenbrook area also travel on Transperth’s Route 336 services to schools in the Morley area. Patronage figures from the ticketing system indicate that in the morning, the Route 335 service averages 38 passengers and the afternoon trip averages 54 passengers. The Number 6 School Special from Governor Stirling in the afternoon carries an average of 45 passengers. The number of students varies from day-to-day and it is acknowledged that on some days students might be required to stand on these services for a portion of the journey. This is no different to the situation on public transport at busy times throughout the Perth metropolitan area, where students have access to regular or appropriately timed Transperth services or access to Transperth special school bus services. It is worth noting that a specific census of all bus services from Swan Christian High School on Thursday 11 March 2004 indicated that all students were accommodated. If the Hon Member is aware of a particular overloading issue from a school, the Minister would be happy to have Transperth look at what can be done to ensure that all students are carried. (5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
Patronage figures from the ticketing system indicate that in the morning, the Route 335 service averages 38 passengers and the afternoon trip averages 54 passengers. The Number 6 School Special from Governor Stirling in the afternoon carries an average of 45 passengers. The number of students varies from day-to-day and it is acknowledged that on some days students might be required to stand on these services for a portion of the journey. This is no different to the situation on public transport at busy times throughout the Perth metropolitan area, where students have access to regular or appropriately timed Transperth services or access to Transperth special school bus services. It is worth noting that a specific census of all bus services from Swan Christian High School on Thursday 11 March 2004 indicated that all students were accommodated. If the Hon Member is aware of a particular overloading issue from a school, the Minister would be happy to have Transperth look at what can be done to ensure that all students are carried. (5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
(5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
The Minister is advised by Transperth that there are a number of ways that children from the Ellenbrook area travel to schools in the Midland and Swan Valley district. Some use the Route 335 service that operates directly from Ellenbrook to Midland, while other students use a combination of Route 337 between Ellenbrook and Bassendean Station and use the train or one of the school specials to access schools in the Midland area. Students from the Ellenbrook area also travel on Transperth’s Route 336 services to schools in the Morley area. Patronage figures from the ticketing system indicate that in the morning, the Route 335 service averages 38 passengers and the afternoon trip averages 54 passengers. The Number 6 School Special from Governor Stirling in the afternoon carries an average of 45 passengers. The number of students varies from day-to-day and it is acknowledged that on some days students might be required to stand on these services for a portion of the journey. This is no different to the situation on public transport at busy times throughout the Perth metropolitan area, where students have access to regular or appropriately timed Transperth services or access to Transperth special school bus services. It is worth noting that a specific census of all bus services from Swan Christian High School on Thursday 11 March 2004 indicated that all students were accommodated. If the Hon Member is aware of a particular overloading issue from a school, the Minister would be happy to have Transperth look at what can be done to ensure that all students are carried. (5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
Patronage figures from the ticketing system indicate that in the morning, the Route 335 service averages 38 passengers and the afternoon trip averages 54 passengers. The Number 6 School Special from Governor Stirling in the afternoon carries an average of 45 passengers. The number of students varies from day-to-day and it is acknowledged that on some days students might be required to stand on these services for a portion of the journey. This is no different to the situation on public transport at busy times throughout the Perth metropolitan area, where students have access to regular or appropriately timed Transperth services or access to Transperth special school bus services. It is worth noting that a specific census of all bus services from Swan Christian High School on Thursday 11 March 2004 indicated that all students were accommodated. If the Hon Member is aware of a particular overloading issue from a school, the Minister would be happy to have Transperth look at what can be done to ensure that all students are carried. (5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
(5) It is usual for school patronage to taper off on all Transperth services towards the end of the school year. Maximum loading on buses will generally occur during February and March, until students work out the best trip that meets their needs. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
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