Perth Patronage Statistics

[#Metro]

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/NewsandMedia/TransperthPatronage/tabid/218/Default.aspx

[colinw]

Nearly all the jump from 2007/2008 to 2008/2009 can be put down to a single service - the Mandurah line.

Perth's rail system, although only half the size of Brisbane's, is carrying very close to the same number of passengers per year now - 56 million, vs about 60 million for Brisbane.  This has been built up from a miserably low figure of less than 10 million just 20 years ago.  Before electrification, Perth suburban rail was a worse basket case than Adelaide, to the point that (hard to believe now) the Fremantle line was closed from 1980 to 1983.

The reason why Perth has recovered, and will soon surpass Brisbane's patronage figures?

Firstly, electrification (cause a huge recovery, same as Brisbane in the 1980s).  But our big gains petered out due to pathetic service frequency.  Perth keeps going on the basis of a no compromise timetable - fast & frequent.  I bet their per km subsidy is half hours, and probably still falling.

Why can we not follow?  No overseas study tours even needed, and the trains were built right here in Queensland and are basically identical in performance to Brisbane's trains. (A series train, 110 km/h, somewhat like a 200 series SMU except 2 cars. B series train, 130 km/h = 160 series IMU).

What is holding back Brisbane?

End of rant.

[#Metro]

The construction of the Mandurah line itself isn't what put patronage up. See, its constructed in the middle of a freeway where you can't walk to! The feeder bus network is absolutely essential for the patronage on the line- AIUI a very high proportion of people make their way to the line on a bus.

Actually, the Mandurah line was proposed to be busway! Apparently the rail line would be a waste of money, the corridor was too low density, Perth people loved their cars and buses were cheaper.

Interesting presentation:
http://rtsa.com.au/assets/2009/06/rtsa240408peter-martinovich-pres.pdf

Following its election in February 2001, the new State Government asked that replacement of the Kwinana Freeway Busway with a railway be examined
This overturned the complimentary links policy adopted in 1995 under which the Kwinana Freeway Busway had been fully implemented between the City Bus port and Canning Highway, and extended to Murdoch with a dedicated lane across Mount Henry Bridge
Previous studies confirmed by further work showed a Direct Route was feasible The Direct Route was adopted in principle in July 2001.

The Mandurah line (and frequency improvements) have really brought the network up, and made transferring to other lines easier too. If you compare with Adelaide, rail patronage on Adelaide is basically dead and flat lining AIUI.

[colinw]

Speaking of the Mandurah line, I spotted this cool image splicing artifact on Google Maps - click here.

The Mandurah Line, with train, springing into existence out of nowhere.  Looks like a join of images years apart, the line in an early state of construction (no track) joined to the line in full operation, with train!

At the southern end of the line, the stations are much more centrally located & accessible to their suburbs than our own Gold Coast line stations are:

Rockhingham
Warnbro - not so good.
Mandurah

cheers,
Col