AvonLink & Perth train, ferry boardings down

[ozbob]

ABC News --> AvonLink rail: WA Government urged to keep expanded service despite occupancy falls

The WA Government has been urged to persist with an expanded train service between Perth and the Avon Valley, despite occupancy rates on the AvonLink plummeting to just 15 per cent.

Figures released in the Public Transport Authority's (PTA) annual report revealed widespread declines in patronage, with metropolitan train and bus boardings both down about 2 per cent and regional rail passenger numbers falling even further.

The AvonLink train service between Perth and Northam was one of few services not to see a decline in overall passenger numbers, but occupancy rates fell, with an increase in services explaining the discrepancy.

The Government in 2014 approved a three-year trial of an expanded AvonLink, up from 10 services per week to 28, and that is due to end late next year.

Earlier this year, the now former Transport Minister Dean Nalder expressed a desire to replace the train service with buses because of low patronage.

On average, just 16 passengers are using each service.

"Average service occupancy per service has dropped to 15 per cent and will fall short of the targets set in the business case for the operation of the trial," the PTA report stated.

But Nationals MP Shane Love urged the Government to persist with running the AvonLink service, saying it was crucial for the region.

    "It is the safest way to travel and I think in the long run it will be the most efficient," Mr Love said.

"The transport network in Perth requires a very large subsidy for them to be provided and the people in Northam probably aren't getting much different to the people in Perth."

Patronage on regional coach services also continued to fall and has now dropped 10 per cent in two years, while overall country train passengers numbers were down nearly 3 per cent.

Perth train, ferry boardings also down

In Perth, a surge in ferry patronage attributed to the opening of Elizabeth Quay was not enough to prevent a 2.3 per cent drop in total boardings.

Train boardings were down 1.7 per cent, with the Armadale and Midland lines experiencing the biggest falls at 6.2 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively.

The PTA said improvements on Perth's major arterial roads, higher unemployment and cost-of-living pressure all contributed to the decline.

Total revenue was down nearly 1 per cent to $221 million, compared to $989 million in expenditure.

Labor's Transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said the figures were "very concerning".

"Revenue is falling despite record increases in prices," she said.

"We need to be providing more services, making it more convenient and encouraging people to catch public transport."

[ozbob]

PTA >> http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/about-us/priorities-and-performance/transport-performance

[ozbob]

Relax ... I will boost numbers when I am there in January 2017 !   

PTA certainly know how to display data. ( You read that TransLink ..  )

A minor blip in reality the slight decrease, just look at the huge growth they have had the past years.  Perth is struggling a little since the mining downturn as well.