2016 LD Perth Trip

[#Metro]

Hello,

I'm in Perth for 2 weeks. Already impressed with the fact the bus was already waiting in the front of the Airport terminal. $4.50 to the City one way.

Trains here are every 15 mins, and my first impression is that the train system is tiny for a city so small. I can see why the powers that be wanted to shut it down!

Also, far less people than Brisbane. Take note Brisbane - Perth has 15 minute trains on all lines during the day!

Happy to consider taking transit related requests if you like.

[ozbob]

There are good feeder buses around Perth on the longer lines.

Be interested in any observations of that, frequency, loadings, interchange facilities etc. 

Also the paid parking (park n' ride at stations), how it works out, what do the locals think?

Enjoy your holiday!

[Gazza]

Do they have land value taxes and 150 pax superbuses?

[#Metro]

Not sure if it was a serious question, but yes, Perth has BOTH. 

Perth Superbus

(not 150 pax type, but still a 'superbus')

The introduction of the new route 950 has been a runaway success, with more than 17,000 people using the route on an average business day, 2000 more than Transperth expected.

Route 950 was introduced on January 27, 2014 and became the highest frequency bus route in Perth with peak period services operating every 3-4 minutes from Morley and every 1-2 minutes from the city to UWA.

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/operational/performance-report/spotlight-950-superbus.asp

Land Value Tax, Office of State Revenue, WA

From 2015-16, legislative changes have resulted in a flat amount of $300 that applies to land with a taxable value between $300,001 and $420,000.  There are also changes to the thresholds at which rates change, and increases of all rates except to the top marginal rate of land tax.

If your land tax bill has increased from last year, it may be because of these changes to the rate scale or because the value of your land has increased.

http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/Land_Tax/What_is_Land_Tax_.aspx

Here is the killer: there is an additional land value tax in the Perth metro area. Must be how the State Government funded their excellent bus network and train improvements. Translated to the QLD context, this is like imposing a LVT in the BCC area to fund PT, independent of BCC:

MRIT is payable in addition to land tax on property located in the metropolitan area.  The metropolitan region is defined by the following local government districts:

Armadale         Bassendean   Bayswater   Belmont   Cambridge
Canning   Claremont   Cockburn   Cottesloe   East Fremantle
Fremantle   Gosnells   Joondalup   Kalamunda   Kwinana
Melville   Mosman Park        Mundaring   Nedlands   Peppermint Grove
Perth   Rockingham   Serpentine-Jarrahdale       South Perth         Stirling
Subiaco   Swan   Victoria Park   Vincent   Wanneroo


MRIT is imposed on property with a land tax liability at a rate of 0.14 cent for every dollar of the aggregated taxable value of the land in excess of $300,000. If land is not subject to land tax, it will not be liable for MRIT.

Please refer to our online calculator to calculate your land tax and MRIT liability.

So there. It can be done, just not in Queensland. 

[SurfRail]

If land is not subject to land tax, it will not be liable for MRIT.

IE - most properties (being residential properties below the taxable threshold) will not be subject to this charge because they are exempt from land tax altogether to start with due to low value or the residential exemption for owner-occupiers. 

The land tax thresholds are a bit less generous than they are in Queensland, where you don't pay land tax if your land holdings are less than $600,000 for natural person resident in Queensland or $350,000 for others.  WA it appears to be $300,000, but you only pay a flat amount up to $420,000.

Incidentally - buses in Perth do tend to be licensed to carry more passengers for the same vehicle than over here (artics can legally carry - from memory - 130 passengers).  You will see the capacities listed on the front bulkhead, as their standard signage suite is very consistent from vehicle to vehicle.

[#Metro]

Okay, some basic notes:

Basically the buses and trains are the same as in QLD. The TransPerth B sets are slightly different looking on the outside - but inside, you'd swear it was as QR train.

Same with buses. Same buses as Brisbane Transport. The drivers compartment is caged in however.

Smartrider works really well. It is incredibly fast and responsive. Gates fly open instantly.

There are a lot of Public Transport Authority staff roaming around stations, on trains, on platforms etc. Wear a bright yellow vest - look almost like the Melbourne Transit Police officers. Seem to be doing both information and security at stations.

Also, it's DOO. No Guards.

Trains are quite fast, make QR trains seem really slow. Similar with buses. These are fast also.

Buses run to interchanges - even where the train station might be only two or three stops from the CBD. Terminates at the station, dump passengers, turn around and then out again. Buses every 15 minutes.

Excellent cross-town bus services. 900 series buses I think. They're missing a specific marketing for the frequency like BUZ though.

Stations will often have a map of the bus routes that pick up in the suburbs and then feed into the train station, at the train station. The suburbs we are talking about are even less dense than those in Brisbane, and are often surrounded by coastal scrubland. We are talking ULTRA LOW DENSITY.

Transport in Perth works. They don't have fancy infrastructure, they just have good frequency, simple network, make everything very fast to make up for low density/sprawling distances.

Brisbane's bus network is being mismanaged IMHO. Brisbane has huge resources at its disposal, probably more so than Perth, and it isn't being managed properly at all IMHO.

[SurfRail]

Take it this is your first time over there?

The difference is quite phenomenal, not just between there and here but between the current Perth and the Perth of the last few years.  My first trip was 2006 less than a year before Mandurah opened, last trip was mid-2015 after Butler was open.  In 2005 there was no activity in the CBD after dark, and now it is a lot more pumping.

[verbatim9]

Take it this is your first time over there?

The difference is quite phenomenal, not just between there and here but between the current Perth and the Perth of the last few years.  My first trip was 2006 less than a year before Mandurah opened, last trip was mid-2015 after Butler was open.  In 2005 there was no activity in the CBD after dark, and now it is a lot more pumping.

Its only a few years back that they also have allowed stores to open after dark during the week and 1/2 day Sundays. Plus this year Restaurants are allowed to sell liquor without food on a Sunday. Bit more foot traffic around and public space enhancements in the Cbd, creating a more enticing vibe.

[#Metro]

Perth Trip 2016

Gather around everyone, it's HAPPY SNAP Time! 

Image	Description
	TransPerth Rail Network. Generally comparable to Brisbane. Though they do have funny stopping patterns and letters like Perth 'K', 'T', 'C', 'W' etc.
	Typical Perth train station. They aren't overengineered or fancy. This one is placed in the centre of the freeway median. Cars travelling at 100 km/hour appear to go backwards!
	This image is Glendalough station bus interchange. Basically the buses and trains are the same models as those used in Brisbane (so no excuses now!!). The station is only 6km from the Perth CBD and two stops from the CBD, yet bus interchange is FORCED at this station. So there!! Again, Perth doesn't mess around with fanciness. Stations and interchanges are functional.
	This image was also taken at Glendalough station. It is also an interchange, and sits immediately under the freeway/station overpass on a main road. Buses not using the main interchange stop here. Similar to Holland Park West Busway in Brisbane.
	Oh, and for those who think Private Bus Operator = Bring on a Social and Economic Apocalypse, read this sign attached to the side of this TransPerth bus. (No, not the amazing internet deal from iiNet) This TransPerth service is proudly operated by Swan Transit.
	If you look inside the bus, you can see it is almost identical to those used by Brisbane City Council's Brisbane Transport division. So much for 'Australia's most modern bus fleet.' Modern bus fleets are not only limited to BCC you know.
	The train replacement bus routes are pre-organised, route numbered and posted. I'm not sure if QR does this. Melbourne also pre-organises their replacement buses. QR should really subcontract BT or another operator, the current train replacement buses used are not flash.
	Stopping patterns for bus. Also had a full giant bus timetable and very large bus network maps inside the station. QR, take note.
	This is not my bus, my bus is up next, waiting at the stand further away (third in queue). Note, the bus is practically the same as in Brisbane and modern.
	Anyway, I spent the day at Scarborough Beach in Perth. This is the bus ready to feed me back to the train station. Note the 900 series numbering - it is basically a crosstown bus. (some did extend to the CBD, but perhaps that is only peak?) Brisbane should get 900 series cross town buses. Who knows what the hold up is.
	Like I said, the frequency of this bus was INSANE. It would outdo most Brisbane BUZ routes. And we are talking PERTH where the density is probably the same or lower, it's spread out everywhere and population lower.
	990 Bus back to the station (yes, it terminated there).

[#Metro]

Perth Trip 2016

Gather around everyone, it's HAPPY SNAP Time! 

	Perth Underground. I think this was at Esplanade (Elizabeth Quay)
	Fremantle Station. This is inside a TransPerth 'B' set. Basically the same as QR, but the button is very irritating. Door buttons are not located on doors and look like small rectangular lights. Confusing. B sets have quite a bit of longitudinal seating. Another 'OMG we can't do that here' kind of thing. Increases pax capacity.
	Anti-graffiti ad. There seems to be quite a lot more 'Public service' type notices all over the TransPerth system. Don't do this, don't do that, think about this, think about that, report this, etc.
	Out at Kwinana, an ultra low density housing development 35 km out of the city. Bus network map available. There were just a handful of buses, generally half-hourly but multiple routes. THE DENSITY WAS SO LOW. Literally, the bus was driving through banksias and coastal scrubs before seeing houses. Again, buses feed the train. Fast train to CBD.

[ozbob]

 

Thanks for sharing the pics.  I will study them for comment later. 

[#Metro]

Yes, PM if you have questions or special requests!!

[verbatim9]

Love the pics. I like the new white Led Display Signs on our busses. Make their busses look like old skool. (not)

[#Metro]

Done a bit more travelling.

Perth allows the SmartRider card to be topped up on city buses. It also can be used to pay for parking and open the bicycle cages at TransPerth stations.

The bicycle cages are surprisingly well used!

More pics later.

[ozbob]

 

[Gazza]

The station is only 6km from the Perth CBD and two stops from the CBD, yet bus interchange is FORCED at this station. So there!!

The 990 has every 2nd bus continue to the CBD.

[#Metro]

Frequency from the train station is a bus every 7.5 minutes to the Beach. 

Bus frequency extended to the CBD is half this - 15 minutes. This has to serve a main road into town through Mt Hawthorn and North

Perth, and is presumably slower. Map: http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetables/details?Bus=990

There is higher frequency to the train station (double) than there is to the CBD. It is also extremely fast on the train.

Every time I got off the trains, the bus was already there or just pulling up.

I went further out to Joondalup. There are stations where TransPerth has placed dedicated busway landed and bridges immediately over

the train station so that there is interchange. Density? Most areas are just banksia scrub around the station, except for Joondalup, which

has a massive shopping centre.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the update and your experiences.

[ozbob]

BrisBANE is a total cluster fuk

Hard evidence Perth with LD, and myself at Adelaide  ..

Let's get is sorted hey!!

[#Metro]

Yes. Perth is very organised.

Top up SmartCard on bus - OK
Use SmartCard for bike cage - OK
Use SmartCard for Car Parking - OK
CHARGE for car parking $2 - OK

Bike cages well used - OK

Services every 15 minutes to all stations everywhere - OK
Transit Officers with ticket checking, late night security and arrest powers - OK

Top up SmartCard with BPay - OK
TransPerth infocentre at Central Station - Good, just walk in, busy as, there were queues!

Fast rail, tunneled under the city, bus network organised - OK
Frequent bus services everywhere - OK

Rational bus network -OK
Frequent, hi-speed Crosstown/circle route services (i.e. Fremantle to Midland) - OK

Local bus network and interchange maps at stations - OK (Good luck Brisbane!)

Perth uses the SAME buses and trains that Brisbane uses. They're just as modern. They are used efficiently and properly.

Brisbane is a MESS!! Spend heaps of money on 'concrete' and 'bling' (modern vehicles) but don't organise them properly!!

[#Metro]

I will post more photos later, I don't do this now as I need to get dinner and battery is running out.

[ozbob]

Thanks LD!

[SurfRail]

Perth uses the SAME buses and trains that Brisbane uses. They're just as modern. They are used efficiently and properly.

Better in fact - in Perth they recognise that buses shouldn't be built with single-leaf doors, and should be fitted with proper destination displays on the side of the bus - and that trains should be optimised for standing passengers.

[ozbob]

^ good point !

[James]

Everything honestly looks so well done there. Easy to understand maps, frequent services, all stops listed - runs rings around SEQ, even the better administrations like the Gold Coast (let's not get started on BCC/BT).