With a date now set for the opening of the Airport Line, the State Government has today announced changes to the extensive bus network that will better link the local community to the line’s new stations.
The announced changes follow a period of community consultation late last year, with a number of modifications made to the bus network in Perth’s eastern suburbs to connect the local community to the new High Wycombe, Airport Central and Redcliffe stations.
On average, the new bus network will provide local residents with more travel options with higher-frequency services, a longer spread of operating hours, more services running seven days a week and improved access to community hubs such as Midland and Cannington, as well as the Airport.
The changes will deliver an additional 1.7 million bus service kilometres each year on the network, with 90 additional bus stops to be installed. Twenty-seven new buses will also be added to the network with around 50 additional drivers to be hired and trained as part of the expansion.
As part of the changes, eight bus services will connect to the new High Wycombe Station, while seven will connect to the new Redcliffe Station.
Services to Redcliffe Station will include a new high frequency circular route 292, providing regular connections to terminals 3 and 4.
Changes have also been made to several routes servicing Midland Station, creating better connections with the Kalamunda, High Wycombe and Redcliffe areas, as well as amendments to route 278 to give Hillview Lifestyle Village residents more convenient access to the High Wycombe Village Shopping Centre, and Midland and High Wycombe stations.
A new high frequency 940 bus route will also be established, to run between Elizabeth Quay Bus Station and Redcliffe Station via Great Eastern Highway. The service will run seven days a week, and is the ninth high frequency bus service on the network.
The new bus network will come into effect when the Airport Line opens, with early works associated with bus stop planning already under way. Bus timetables continue to be refined and will be released closer to the opening date.
Further details on the Airport Line and new bus routes can be found at https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/JourneyPlanner/Airport-Line
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Delivering the Airport Line has been an enormous engineering feat for Western Australia, but in the background we’ve been carefully planning how we connect the community to our new train stations.
“We want to see as many people as possible using the new Airport Line, which is why we undertook extensive consultation with the community to understand what bus network changes would be needed to provide the access needed.
“Years of planning have gone into ensuring our bus network – which will work in tandem with the Airport Line – is enticing for customers to use, with services running more frequently and over a longer spread of hours.
“As well as making it as easy as possible for our passengers to link with the Airport Line, this more robust bus network will improve cross-suburban travel for eastern suburbs residents and create easier access to important hubs like Midland and Cannington.”
As stated by Forrestfield MLA Stephen Price:
“The new Airport Line and High Wycombe train station will significantly improve public transport access for people living in our south-eastern suburbs and foothills areas.
“With the train line opening imminently, we will see changes to the bus network which will improve the frequency of services, deliver longer hours of operation and provide a significant number of connections to get people to and from High Wycombe station.”
As stated by Belmont MLA Cassie Rowe:
“The new Redcliffe Station on the Airport Line will provide yet another public transport option for people living in the Belmont electorate.
“While the changes will improve the frequency and availability of services, it’s important the community takes the time to understand what the new bus network will mean for them.”
As stated by Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes:
“The changes to the bus routes will ensure people living in Kalamunda and surrounds can access the new Airport Line.
“For people in our community that rely heavily on public transport, these changes will mean more public transport options, more often – delivering better access and connection to other parts of our city.”
