❓ The Minister for Transport responds to a question about improvements to public transport, highlighting record passenger numbers, fare reductions, and the introduction of new payment options like smartwatches and credit cards.
AnsweredQoN 671Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Public transport—Commuter payment options
671. Ms Sook Yee Lai to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and services
across Western Australia. Can the minister update the house on how this
government is making it easier and cheaper for more Western Australians to use
public transport?
671. Ms Sook Yee Lai to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and services
across Western Australia. Can the minister update the house on how this
government is making it easier and cheaper for more Western Australians to use
public transport?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. Again, the Liberal Party is looking away. This is another
improvement to public transport in Western Australia. More improvements to
public transport are making it more affordable and more accessible for Western
Australians. We have seen the data come in for the first 10 months of usage on
our public transport system this year. More than 127 million passengers have
boarded a Transperth train, bus or ferry. That is a
record and includes the fact that the train line to Armadale was closed for the
majority of that time and that there is significant underreporting of
student use. Because of the free public transport program, kids are not tagging
on and off as we would like them to. Even with a closed rail line and
significant underreporting, we are still beating all records.
We have also made public
transport far more affordable. Two years ago, we introduced the two-zone fare
cap, significantly reducing the cost of travel for those in the outer suburbs
in particular when getting to and from the city and across the network. From 1
January, fares will be cut again to a one-zone fare cap, making it far more
affordable for all of those across the network to catch public transport.
Another piece of the
public transport jigsaw puzzle is that from 8 December, people will be able to
pay for fares on Transperth network—ferry, train or bus—with their
smartwatch, phone or credit card, as we announced today. People have been very
keen to see that happen. Although the SmartRider will continue to play a vital
role when people are moving around our suburbs and regional towns, people want
the convenience of using their credit cards, smartphones and smartwatches,
which people will be able to do from 8 December. As I said, this is yet another
measure to make public transport more attractive. In many instances, people
might be out and exiting the pub and a train or a bus is nearby, and they can
use their credit card, get on and access public transport. Also, we understand
that tourists who come here for maybe two or three days or a week or two do not
want to go through buying a SmartRider. Being able to use public transport will
incentivise our many visitors to WA, as the Premier outlined, to get onto
public transport and move around our state.
for the question. Again, the Liberal Party is looking away. This is another
improvement to public transport in Western Australia. More improvements to
public transport are making it more affordable and more accessible for Western
Australians. We have seen the data come in for the first 10 months of usage on
our public transport system this year. More than 127 million passengers have
boarded a Transperth train, bus or ferry. That is a
record and includes the fact that the train line to Armadale was closed for the
majority of that time and that there is significant underreporting of
student use. Because of the free public transport program, kids are not tagging
on and off as we would like them to. Even with a closed rail line and
significant underreporting, we are still beating all records.
We have also made public
transport far more affordable. Two years ago, we introduced the two-zone fare
cap, significantly reducing the cost of travel for those in the outer suburbs
in particular when getting to and from the city and across the network. From 1
January, fares will be cut again to a one-zone fare cap, making it far more
affordable for all of those across the network to catch public transport.
Another piece of the
public transport jigsaw puzzle is that from 8 December, people will be able to
pay for fares on Transperth network—ferry, train or bus—with their
smartwatch, phone or credit card, as we announced today. People have been very
keen to see that happen. Although the SmartRider will continue to play a vital
role when people are moving around our suburbs and regional towns, people want
the convenience of using their credit cards, smartphones and smartwatches,
which people will be able to do from 8 December. As I said, this is yet another
measure to make public transport more attractive. In many instances, people
might be out and exiting the pub and a train or a bus is nearby, and they can
use their credit card, get on and access public transport. Also, we understand
that tourists who come here for maybe two or three days or a week or two do not
want to go through buying a SmartRider. Being able to use public transport will
incentivise our many visitors to WA, as the Premier outlined, to get onto
public transport and move around our state.
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