Perth Public Transport

[Ipggi]

Originally Posted by metro_minotaur

gotta luv projectors in underground stations, in Australia i think the only place we have them would be at Town Hall station in Sydney. But in Europe they're everywhere, some of the German underground systems have them playing ads but when the train is about to arrive it puts up a warning that the train is arriving, i thought that was pretty cool.

Sydney had the projector, station billboards well over a decade ago with their underground stations. The company that pioneered it a decade ago back in 1999 prior the 2000 Olympics has since gone bankrupt, but here is an article from 2002 on it.

http://www.ferret.com.au/n/Street-Vi...e-fast-n707964

And a legacy company history article on the system ...

http://www.streetvision.com.au/histo...ubpage=history

[docker]

the next railway for perth...

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/el...0624-cwnz.html

Ellenbrook rail studies let in secret
Chris Thomson
June 25, 2009 - 7:01AM

The Barnett Government has let two controversial reassessments of the feasibility of the on-again-off-again Ellenbrook railway proposal in secret, without going to tender.

The first $38,529 project has been awarded to Syme Marmion, a consulting company formerly co-owned by Premier Barnett's Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Bill Marmion.

Mr Marmion, the Liberal MLA for Nedlands, yesterday said he sold his share in the company after the 2008 election and no longer had any management role.

Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said Mr Marmion's former business partner John Syme would prepare a business case for public transport in Perth's northeast corridor.

"We were familiar with the company's work," Mr Hynes explained.

"Because Syme Marmion fitted the sole source requirements – based on a high-quality analysis on a similar project for the PTA and their strong understanding of projected population patterns and development plans for the corridor from their work with other major clients, including City of Swan – they were granted an exemption from quotation.

"Because of this, and because the value was below the public tender threshold of $150,000, there was no requirement to advertise."

The second pre-feasibility study for the northeast corridor to be let without tender has been awarded to Parsons Brinkerhoff at a cost of $97,350.

On April 9, WAtoday.com.au revealed the government had cancelled the original feasibility study for the Ellenbrook line that had been commissioned by the former Carpenter Labor government.

Under fire later that day in Parliament over what Labor Opposition leader Eric Ripper dubbed Mr Barnett's biggest broken promise to date, the Premier denied the study's cancellation was a back-flip on the railway he promised during the 2008 campaign.

However, Opposition Transport Spokesman Ken Travers said the PTA decision jeopardised the timely delivery of the promised rail link.

After Mr Barnett's Parliamentary grilling, Transport Minister Simon O'Brien said the PTA was still "progressing plans for a study of rail services to Ellenbrook".

"Before construction of any railway, strategic advice is always sought by the government to study issues such as the likely patronage, the social, environmental and heritage issues and alternative public transport options," Mr O'Brien said at the time.

He added that strategic advice was needed before proceeding to the more detailed planning and design stage.

[jacoboy7]

This might be abit late but...
I found this, and I was just wondering is it gonna happen?

I doubt it since they wont even upgrade our stupid airport now wit the crisis, I doubt they will spend 3.5-4 billion on a rail thing lol.
Have a look anyways.

http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au...ght-rail-perth

Light Rail for Perth
Feature | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam

Tuesday 26th August 2008, 5:23pm

The prospect of oil vulnerability has been largely overlooked, with transport funding announcements overwhelmingly favouring road upgrades.

The Liberal Party's ‘Securing Perth's Transport Future' campaign announced $405 million in road funding for Metropolitan Perth, most of it in marginal seats of Hasluck and Stirling. Only the strong Australian dollar has prevented a major blowout in retail petrol prices, with world oil prices nudging $100 a barrel.

Oil and mortgage vulnerability
Rising fuel costs threaten to cripple large areas of metropolitan Perth unless alternative transport is provided. In the last five years nearly half of Perth's suburbs have become more vulnerable to fuel and mortgage stress. The worst hit are the outer suburbs. Inadequate public transport means people have no alternative but to use their cars, in spite of spiralling costs.

People have flocked to use the new Perth to Mandurah rail line. With over 50,000 journeys made each day, it shows that if fast efficient mass transit services are provided, they will be used. Now the trains are crammed and car parks at Perth's popular stations are overflowing by 7.30am. Bus services linking suburbs to the rail line are inadequate.
The Australian Greens want to change this.

Light rail: the time has come!
Light rail is a form of urban rail public transport, essentially a modern tram system, using electric rail cars large enough to accommodate up to 60 people as well as wheelchairs and bicycles. Light rail infrastructure generally has much less impact on the urban environment than traditional heavy rail systems, with rails unobtrusively laid along existing roadways or road reserves and stops along median strips.

A network for everyone - not just the inner suburbs
The Greens want people in the outer suburbs to have equal access to fast, efficient and safe mass transit, not just the wealthy inner suburbs. At present, the only advanced light rail proposal for Western Australia is a line from Subiaco to East Perth - an area already well serviced by a range of public transport options.

How do we pay for it?
In a low density city like Perth, the cost of light rail is approximately AU$14 million per kilometre. The ‘Greater Perth Light Rail Network' would require an investment of approximately $3-5 billion over 10 to 15 years.

At present, the federal government does not fund metropolitan public transport infrastructure, leaving this vital but costly responsibility entirely to the states.

The Greens are working to remedy this:
we want to redirect 25% of the $22.3 billion AusLink 2 funding scheme for 2009-14 to metropolitan and regional public transport projects, rising to 50% after 2014. We are also proposing that the State Government make public transport the centrepiece of Western Australia's allocation of funds from
the $20 billion ‘Building Australia Fund.' The money is available. All we need is the vision.

A sustainable city is possible
This is part of the Greens' Sustainable Cities vision: water and energy-efficient affordable housing, genuine government support for renewable energy for your home; and urban planning that creates a more livable city conducive to walking, cycling and a real sense of community.

[Bullswool]

It might come eventually. But its been on talked about for a long time, so I wouldn't hold your breath on it happening anytime soon. I think there are a lot more improvements with TransPerth that could be implemented before a tram network is funded. Mainly improving bus services and ease of use.

[L2]

The Greens want people in the outer suburbs to have equal access to fast, efficient and safe mass transit, not just the wealthy inner suburbs. At present, the only advanced light rail proposal for Western Australia is a line from Subiaco to East Perth - an area already well serviced by a range of public transport options.

I was just thinking "but it would serve such a tiny % of people" then I saw this and remembered their map.

Was so funny - who could ever expect there to be several tram routes from Armadale Station into nearby sprawl?

[hayds]

Originally Posted by Blindfold

Remember, one should never underestimate the stupidity of the general public!

One should always underestimate how much time they have to walk to the train or bus though! 5 seconds can be a bitch.

[docker]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/bu...0803-e6y0.html

Bus-ted: How Ellenbrook train line derailed
Chris Thomson
August 10, 2009 - 8:08AM

Colin Barnett's on-again, off-again, Ellenbrook railway - dubbed his biggest broken promise since forming government - was hurtling toward oblivion just six weeks after the premier was sworn in, documents reveal.

A Public Transport Authority email obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information legislation, and dated November 3 last year, confirms buses were the only mass transit option being considered for Ellenbrook in the months before a key feasibility study for the railway was cancelled.

After matching Alan Carpenter's commitment to build the $850 million, 20km spur off the existing Midland line, Mr Barnett was sworn in as Premier on September 23, less than six weeks before the railway-cancelling email was sent.

On April 9 this year, WAtoday.com.au reported the PTA had axed a route definition study initiated by the Carpenter Government that would have paved the way for the railway to proceed full steam ahead.

Later that day, Opposition Leader Eric Ripper dubbed the dumped study Mr Barnett's biggest broken election promise since forming government.

Under intense parliamentary scrutiny that afternoon, Mr Barnett insisted the railway would be built.

However, the PTA email reveals that by then the Ellenbrook railway had already been slashed as a Barnett Government priority.

During a meeting with the PTA in October last year, consultants Parsons Brinkerhoff had been instructed to extend a so-called Northern Eastern Corridor Rapid Transit Study to include Ellenbrook.

On April 9, Mr Barnett touted this extended study as necessary before the cancelled feasibility work could be undertaken.

An email from Parsons Brinkerhoff transport planner Dick Fleming to PTA senior project manager Peter Martinovich on October 31 last year confirmed rail had never been part of that extended work.

"We discussed Peter's desire to get Parsons Brinkerhoff to conduct a study of bus access options to Ellenbrook on Wednesday ...," Mr Fleming wrote.

"This was seen as a good way to facilitate integration of the two studies in considering the future potential for a high quality Bus Rapid Transit style service outcome in this sector of Perth.

"Accordingly, we will prepare a scope of work and revised estimate to investigate Ellenbrook public bus access opportunities and include this in the review of the budget for Alexander Drive."

In a return email dated November 3 last year Mr Martinovich approved the work proposed by Mr Fleming.

A separate briefing paper from PTA executive director Mark Burgess, read by Transport Minister Simon O'Brien on March 26 - just three days before Mr O'Brien joined Mr Barnett in confirming the railway study would proceed - cast serious doubts on the viability of a railway anywhere to Perth's north east.

"Given current development pressures and the scarcity of suitable spare land in the north eastern corridor, if land for the transit spine is not available and the transit system needs to fit within road reserves, bus based systems are much more adaptable," Mr Burgess advised Mr O'Brien.

The briefing paper gave a strong indication that the PTA now preferred a dogleg bus route from Alexander Drive to Ellenbrook, rather than a railway off the Midland line.

"It is worth noting that the Alexander Drive alignment has an existing passenger population catchment of 250,000 people," Mr Burgess advised.

"This is much more than the proposed Ellenbrook rail line catchments, which have built-out limitations due to Whiteman Park.

"The initial concept for the transit corridor has the bus rapid transit network on Alexander Drive finishing at Gnangara Road as its most northern point.

"However the corridor could be extended further north and/or linked across to Ellenbrook to meet developing needs."

Labor transport spokesman Ken Travers says a dogleg bus route will not work for Ellenbrook.

"If you start deviating the route off Alexander Drive and substitute rail with buses, you add significant travel time and your passenger numbers drop significantly compared to a direct rail route," Mr Travers said.

"This flip-flopping on the proposed railway shows the government is trying to find a way to break their solemn election promise to the people of Ellenbrook."

A spokesman for Mr O'Brien has now confirmed that a contract was sent to Parsons Brinkerhoff on May 15 2009 - five weeks after the Premier's parliamentary grilling - asking them to consider rail as an option.

[frozenzeus]

the mandurah railway all over again. Libs build the tightass option only for Labor to rip it up and build a railway. God i hate politicians sometimes.

Can someone remove the planning process from politics, would make it alot easier for us planners rather than having ill-informed dipshits at the top of the pile.

[docker]

what was the kalamunda Bus Station,


what is the kmuldanaa Bus Station


can someone please explain this ramp to me...

[L2]

The 'before' looked better, even had a nice tree for shade.

The ramp is there for wheelchairs - do you get many disabled passengers using this bus stop?

[docker]

the tree is still there... and also this is a hot spot for elderly people, but not normally ones in wheelchairs, but i meant why have the ramp when the surface is already flat with no stairs as it is? it seems to me as though it just there for the sack of it being there...

[smeghead]

Originally Posted by docker

the tree is still there... and also this is a hot spot for elderly people, but not normally ones in wheelchairs, but i meant why have the ramp when the surface is already flat with no stairs as it is? it seems to me as though it just there for the sack of it being there...

1: Bring the bus stop floor level up to the same level as the floor of a low floor bus, thus minimising the vertical gap and maximising convenience and comfort for all users.
2: To make the ground immediately surrounding the bus shelter as level as possible, to reduce the risk of wheelchairs, trolleys, carts, prams or strollers from accidentally rolling away, onto the roadway and into traffic.

[andrewM]

how the f&^% would a dog leg from Alexander drive work? An extension of the Ballajura/Alexander heights 885/887 (I think) routes? That would take around at least 50 minutes (let alone in Peak times) and not take people where they wanted to go.

The most popular destinations for Ellenbrook people is to Bassendean station for on carriage to perth via rail (337) or to Morley (336) (the only other destination serviced from Ellenbrook is Midland). Usually I get the 7.10am 336/337 and I am in town by 8.00am

Continuing the 66 limited stops service using the 336 route via Beechboro would be a much better solution - it is already a well patronised service. If they are going to reneg on a rail service then this would actually work well.

[Eco-rat]

It's a shame Ellenbrook planning never got to the advanced stage of publication that the Mandurah docs got - I got a broad feel for the route being taken but nothing concrete. I'd love to see the arguments for rail taking different routes. And a shame nothing proposed for Morley shops.

[Bullswool]

I thought the planning was ongoing? It will just won't be built for now? Or am I thinking of the airport...

It would be nice for the planning to be done for prospective lines, just so that when they are actually needed, they can be started straight away.

[Bullswool]

From the PTA annual report:

-Patronage increased by 18.4% to 128.78m boardings
-Part of this increase was from the introduction of free pensioner travel
-9 New trains were delivered
-Introduction of routes 79 and 407
-Lengthened peak bus services on northern line
-New Ferry delivered

[Bullswool]

Buses:

-Third new artic delivered
-Transperth operates 1134 buses
-80 being delivered 2009/2010
-74 being delivered 2010/2011

[eastadl]

Originally Posted by Bullswool

From the PTA annual report:

-Patronage increased by 18.4% to 128.78m boardings

thats quite an increase. Very well done. Wonder what the other cities rates are. I bet I know who would have the least growth

[Bullswool]

A lot of the increase has been from the Mandurah Line. So when Adelaide starts its electrification I'm sure you can expect huge increases too

[crazyknightsfan]

^ Depends whether they actually improve the service frequency. Reliability improvements should be a given and speeds should improve with superior acceleration and braking performance.