More than half a million commuters elect not to ride on Perth trains

Date
    January 21, 2015
    WA Today

Figures for the first five months of the 2014-15 financial year show a significant decrease in Perth train patronage compared to 2012-13.


West Australians are turning way from Perth's trains, with figures showing 739,739 less trips for the five-months that ended in November compared with the same period two years ago.   :(

Overcrowding, overpricing, and inconvenience have been cited by WA Labor as reasons why less people are using trains. 

Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers said the figures detailed on the Public Transport Authority website - which amount to a three per cent decrease on the first five months of the 2012-13 financial year - showed the WA government was out of touch.   

"The declining patronage is bad news for motorists as it means more congestion," Mr Travers said.

"It also highlights once again that the Barnett government does not understand the challenges of a growing metropolis and the need for people to be using public transport during peak times."   :(

The declining number of train users comes after Western Australia continued to have the fastest population growth rate of all states and territories.

In the first five months of the 2012-13 financial year 2012-13, 27,883,067 train trips were logged by Transperth. That figure dropped to 27,143,328 in the first five months of the 2014-15 financial year, down by 739,379.

The first five months of the 2013-14 financial year, when there were shutdowns as part of Perth City Link rail works, saw 26,573,357 train trips logged.

Prior to 2013-14, train trips in Perth had steadily increased since 2003-04.

"There's no doubt that the declining patronage has coincided with significant increases in the cost of using our rail train system with fare increases for three years in a row at double the rate of inflation and the introduction of paid parking at train stations across Perth," Mr Travers said.   :(

But Transport Minister Dean Nalder said there was no evidence to suggest the introduction of paid parking had any impact on patronage.

"Transperth car parks are often still very busy suggesting people are still choosing to use public transport. I would say the introduction of SmartParker appears to have stopped non-public transport users from parking in Transperth car parks – and that is a win for commuters," Mr Nalder said.

"What we do know is that quality, safety and overall opinion of services remains consistent, suggesting its likely other factors unrelated to public transport turning people away.

"Economic factors have also played a part. Office vacancy rates are up so we believe fewer people are travelling into the city on a typical work day.

"Anyone who has perhaps stopped using public transport should take a second look and give it a try. There is no question there was a lot of talk about crowding on Transperth train services a few years ago.

"That's why this Government placed an order for 22 three-car rail sets. Eight of these are already on the system and move thousands more passengers each day."

Overcrowding, overpricing, and inconvenience have been cited by WA Labor as reasons why less people are using trains.  Oh Mr Barnett, what are you doing to the good people of Western Australia?.      :(

wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 2:44pm:

Overcrowding, overpricing, and inconvenience have been cited by WA Labor as reasons why less people are using trains.  Oh Mr Barnett, what are you doing to the good people of Western Australia?.      :(

And Ken Travers knows what he's talking about.

He can often be seen on the trains, taking notes and asking questions.

I must admit, when I used to live in an area serviced by trains, I wasn't too impressed with the service.

Lots of violent hoons on meth, and plenty of overcrowding.

Plenty of inconsiderate pricks putting their feet up on the seats too.

Raven can't stand Perth trains, he uses his car for most trips the only exception is Raven works in the city and to get there he would rather catch the bus.

Raven wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 5:25pm:

Raven can't stand Perth trains, he uses his car for most trips the only exception is Raven works in the city and to get there he would rather catch the bus.

Greggery understands.

Greggery also works in the city, and catching the bus is much easier, cheaper, and quicker than driving his car.

Greggery's not sure why he's talking in the third person.

wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 2:03pm:

Figures for the first five months of the 2014-15 financial year show a significant decrease in Perth train patronage compared to 2012-13.

Right about the time they started charging for parking at stations.

I wonder if they could be related?

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 5:29pm:

Raven wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 5:25pm: Raven can't stand Perth trains, he uses his car for most trips the only exception is Raven works in the city and to get there he would rather catch the bus. Greggery understands. Greggery also works in the city, and catching the bus is much easier, cheaper, and quicker than driving his car. Greggery's not sure why he's talking in the third person.

sociopaths do :)

in all seriousness tho, I know a 13yo boy that refers to himself in the third person.  The sad part is he lights fires, hurts animals and wets the bed.  I expect to see him in court within 15 years as a serial killer.  Bad case.  and the rest of the family is scarcely better.

... wrote on Jan 21^st, 2015 at 6:15pm:

wrote on Jan 21st, 2015 at 2:03pm: Figures for the first five months of the 2014-15 financial year show a significant decrease in Perth train patronage compared to 2012-13. Right about the time they started charging for parking at stations. I wonder if they could be related?

Almost certainly.

Along with excessive ticket prices, overcrowding, inconvenient time-tabling and dirty trains.

And violent fork-sticks intent on causing mayhem.

I tend to look back fondly upon my days on the NSWR, and often shed a silent tear for what
that once-great organisation has become... :'(

Privatisation, and the separation of the freight network from the passenger network didn't
help either. You see, passenger rail services don't turn profits, or if they do it's small. Hence
the massively profitable freight department subsidised the passenger trains if required, when
the rail network was publicly-owned (government-run).

But greed and short-sightedness put paid to that. Now the freight profit goes into the tax-
havens of multi-nationals, and so the taxpayer (only fair too, as they had to under public
ownership) and the paying public have to carry the whole can for the passenger network.

Hence the dirty, late trains, the yobbos, the vandalism, the chronic under-staffing and the
high prices.

Oh, the fact that NSW has a transport minister who hasn't the slightest clue about how to
run a railway is just the icing on the cake.   :-/ :(