Transport In Review 2022

[Zidanehartono]

Highlights of 2022 relating to our Perth public transport system and also some miscellaneous stuffs that still relates to the industry and/or significance. There might be some additions and/or changes that I've missed, so please add them here.

This Years Highlights

* 2-zone fare cap in effect since the start of the year and you'll pay no more than $4.90 (standard cash fare) even if you intend to travel further.
* 4x Volvo BZL Electric Bus trialled by the PTA WA now in service.
* First 2x Mercedes-Benz O500RS for WA on display at the BusWA AGM & Bus Display event; each unit are coupled with a Irizar i6 and BCI bodywork.
* GM class locomotive 'GM 1' secured for preservation at the railway museum in Bassendean.
* Bus operator Kinetic launched operations in Western Australia with a depot in High Wycombe and a fleet of 6x Mercedes-Benz O500RS/Irizar i6 coaches.
* Transdev WA's contract to operate Transperth bus services in the Fremantle and Rockingham-Mandurah areas renewed for another decade.
* Bus 3303 (rigid) and 3137 (articulated) onwards feature a new interior wheel arch cover.
* The public were invited to ride on the new Airport Line with its open day event on 9th October before it commenced full operations the following day; a media event was held at High Wycombe Station on the morning of its first day of operations.
* Free travel on all Transperth services on 9th and 23rd of October to coincide with the Airport Line Community Open Day and Telethon Family Festival.

Swan Transit's Movember Buses

1466
1620
1621
1627
1641
1646
2034
2036
2400
2403
2404
2406
2409
2410
2411
2520
2531
2552
2567
2581
2586
2678
2688
2698
2924
3085
3264

JANUARY

Livery for the Volvo BZL Electric Bus for use on Joondalup CAT services revealed on social media.
26th - 14th: Mandurah Line Shutdown for the realignment of tracks for the Thornlie-Cockburn Rail Link and works on a 3rd train platform at Cockburn Central Station. Express buses between PCEC and either 4x stations affected by the disruption were provided in addition to the all-stops service.

FEBRUARY

Placards to remind passengers to wear a mask onboard buses introduced with these signages placed next to the front door of every bus in the Transperth fleet.
11th - 13th: 3 day closure of the Midland Line to facilitate the Forrestfield Airport Link project.
18th: The front seats on buses off-limits to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on public transport.
27th: Debut of the Purple CAT, travelling between Elizabeth Quay Bus Station and UWA South, via QEII Medical Centre.
28th: Debut of the Volvo BZL Electric Bus (Bus 4000 and 4001) into public service, for use on the Joondalup CAT.

Following the launch of the Purple CAT, the following changes were made to the Perth CAT bus fleets:

* All Volvo B8RLE's have been fitted with bus stopping bells and existing Volvo B7RLE's had theirs reinstated to working order for the first time since 2016.
* Bus 2139-2145, all are Volgren CR228L Futurebus-bodied units, now plays the current 'ding' when the stop button is pressed, standard on all Optimus units since 2018.
* The announcement aurals for 'The next stop is [Bus Stop]' has been replaced by 'Ring bell for [Bus Stop]'.

MARCH

Public & online consultation for the trial of the Regional Town Bus Services in Esperance with routes and timetables revealed.
3rd:
* Perth Airport interterminal bus service resumed operations as WA opens to domestic and international travel.
* Cash handling on buses amended with passengers required to pay the exact cost when buying cash fares.
28th:
* First locally-assembled C-series railcar rolled into the next stage of production.
* B-series 117/120 had the honors of being the first railcar set to travel through the tunnels of the Airport Line.

APRIL

Smart bus stops rolled out at another 3x bus stops in the Perth CBD after successful evaluation.
6th: Debut of Busselton-Margaret River Airport Shuttle operated by South West Coach Lines; to coincide with Jetstar's new Melbourne-Busselton route.

MAY

30th:
* Buswest/Australian Transit Group acquires Kwinana-based Chart-A-Bus.
* Upgrade works within drop off zone and short-term parking areas of Currambine Station commenced.

JUNE

2x Volvo BZL's with the Transperth corperate livery sighted at Trucks Centre Kewdale, these became Bus 4002 and 4003.
2th-6th: Train replacement buses operating between Perth CBD and Aubin Grove due to essential works on the Mandurah Line relating to METRONET's Thornlie-Cockburn Link Project.

JULY

4th: Esperance town bus service commenced trial operations with three routes; 810, 811 and 812.
Emergency scenario exercises for the Airport Line took place on 17th, 20th and 30th of the month.

AUGUST

C-series 127 completed its high-voltage testing and extensive dynamic validation testing will be done at Nowergup railcar depot.
20th: After only 4.5 months, the Busselton-Margaret River Airport Shuttle operated by South West Coach Lines ceased operations after its last service due to poor patronage.

SEPTEMBER

Bus 3303 onwards feature a specification change with a new front wheel arch cover design with McConnell Metro seats.
Route familiarization courses for the new Airport Line bus routes.
9th: Mask wearing no longer required for travel on Transperth/PTA WA services; the front seats on buses have also opened to passengers.
12th: First day in service for Bus 4002 and 4003 (Volvo BZL's) on revenue service trials, operating on shifts selected by the PTA.
22nd: National Day of Mourning saw all Transperth bus services operating on a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable; trains run on the usual weekday timetable and ferries on the standard summer timetable.

OCTOBER

Bus 3137 became the first Transperth articulated bus to feature a specification change with a new front wheel arch cover design with McConnell Metro seats on top.

Airport bus 2379 and 2380 to Swan Transit (Midvale) for use on Route 292, a clockwise circular bus service linking Redcliffe Station and Perth Airport Terminal T3/T4. The remaining Airport bus units 2377, 2378, 2707 and 2713 which are still with Path Transit (Redcliffe) had their delicated 'Airport' decals/liveries (on 2377 and 2378) removed and luggage racks replaced with the standard plastic cover with seat.

5th/6th: Test trains running Airport Line scheduled services without passengers prior to revenue service commencement.
7th: Route 286, 287, 291, 297, 298, 330 and 340 ceased operations after its last service.
8th: Route 294 and 304 ceased operations after its last service.

9th:

* Airport Line Community Open Day event with limited services between High Wycombe, Bayswater and the city.
* Free travel on all Transperth services to coincide the launch of the new train line.
* Route 36, 40, 288, 296, 299 and 380 ceased operations after its last service.

10th: The Airport Line commenced full operations at the start of the 4th school term.
23rd: Free travel on all Transperth services to coincide with the Telethon Family Festival.
28th: Kelsian Group expands with the acquisition of a charter bus operator Horizons West.

NOVEMBER

Bus operator Kinetic launched operations in Western Australia with a depot in High Wycombe and a fleet of 6x Mercedes-Benz O500RS/Irizar i6 coaches.
C-series 127 delivered to Nowergup railcar depot overnight assisted with a locomotive, it's currently undergoing a 12 month test program.
11th-13th: Midland and Airport Line replaced by buses provided by Path Transit and Transdev WA.

13th

* Route 60 becomes part of the High Frequency series as the 980; while still operating the exact route.
* Deviations to April Road as of Route 67 will no longer operate with the last service on 11th.
* Swan Transit/Transit Systems Australia takes over Route 376, previously operated by Path Transit/Keolis Downer.
* Route 471 underoges a route change with the route extending from Burns Beach Caravan Park to Beachside Drive East and now traverses via Seabreeze Avenue and Burleigh Drive instead of along Whitehaven Avenue.

DECEMBER

9th-11th: Armadale, Thornlie, Midland and Airport Line replaced by buses.
26th-3rd January 2023: Essential works related to the Thornlie-Cockburn Rail Link resulted in the closure of the Mandurah Line. Express buses between PCEC and either 4x stations affected by the disruption were provided in addition to the all-stops service.

[Enviro 500]

If 376 could be so easily moved to Joondalup package from Morley, there's no reason why 72 and 75 can't be swapped for 940. It makes a lot more sense for CVDEP to operate the 75 as it originates from there.

[Off The Rails]

If 376 could be so easily moved to Joondalup package from Morley, there's no reason why 72 and 75 can't be swapped for 940. It makes a lot more sense for CVDEP to operate the 75 as it originates from there.

God, can you stop harping on about how the 72/75 'should' be operated by CV? If you feel so offended by this not being changed, how about asking the PTA?

It's becoming a joke how much you complain about it. Stop it.

[Traklink]

27 February - Upgraded Claremont Station bus interchange opens
17 July - Full length service of route 569 introduced, with trips added throughout the day on weekdays
9 October - Service improvements and extensions to TransAlbany route 804 and TransBusselton route 816
24 October - New trial Transwa coach services from Bunbury to Collie and Bunbury to Manjimup

[Bus-1809]

If 376 could be so easily moved to Joondalup package from Morley, there's no reason why 72 and 75 can't be swapped for 940. It makes a lot more sense for CVDEP to operate the 75 as it originates from there.

God, can you stop harping on about how the 72/75 'should' be operated by CV? If you feel so offended by this not being changed, how about asking the PTA?

It's becoming a joke how much you complain about it. Stop it.

You're not wrong OTR... Over it myself now too, and I hardly troll this forum anymore.

72/75 will not move to "Canning Package" just to suit you. The majority of the running is in the Welshpool Contract Area, hence why they run it.

In the PATH Transit days, 376's were under the Morley Contract, but were run by Trigg, Wangara and Joondalup for the most part of it.

[Enviro 500]

I remember in the mid 2000s 75 was directly operated by CVDEP itself while WPDEP had 507 which was a Canning package route.

Even some RCDEP bus captains who did a few runs on the 75 think it's the odd one out. And they blame bureaucracy for that.