Perth visit Jan 2017

[ozbob]

Hope to spend a few days in Perth early 2017 for a look around (then Melbourne for a few days).

Transperth --> http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/

WA PTA --> http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/

Transwa --> http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/

[ozbob]

I think I will do a journey to Bunbury on the Australind

--> http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Services/Australind

Depart Perth Station 9.30am arrive Bunbury Passenger Terminal 11.55am

Depart Bunbury Passenger Terminal 2.45pm arrive Perth Station 5.15pm

Can only book < 90 days ahead --> http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Bookings/Booking-Information

History

First introduced in 1947 and hauled by a steam locomotive, the original Australind was the final link in the provision of a newly coordinated rail-road service network throughout the State's south-west.

In the mid 60's the Australind changed to a diesel-electric locomotive and due to the internal features the train was considered to be more stylish than air travel.

In 1987 the self-powered diesel units were introduced and the Australind took on the marketing slogan 'the train that thinks it is a plane'.

The Australind has travelled an estimated 6 million kilometres.

he Australind provides two train services each way every day of the week between Bunbury and Perth.

The journey time is two hours and 30 minutes.

Snacks and beverages are available for purchase from the buffet and there are bathroom facilities on-board.

The service is accessible for person's using a disabled conveyance.

The Australind is a cash-only service and credit card and EFTPOS facilities are not available for on-board.

Australind services to Bunbury Terminal depart from Platform 3, Perth City Station on Wellington Street.

North Dandalup, Yarloop and Cookernup are all low level platforms and passengers are required to use stairs in order to board and/or detrain at these stations.

====================

Booked!

Booking Details:
Wed 05 Jan 2017 
Confirmed 
Booking Ref: xxxxx
Perth Station (Perth City Platform 3) to Bunbury Passenger Terminal
1   Adult   
09:30AM    Perth Station (Perth City Platform 3) to Bunbury Passenger Terminal
Travelling on Australind Rail service 103 (arriving 11:55 AM)
Passenger Name     (Card Number)     Car     Seat
Robert DOW          Car 1     11
   
       
Wed 05 Jan 2017 
Confirmed 
Booking Ref: xxxxxx
Bunbury Passenger Terminal to Perth Station (Perth City Platform 3)
1   Adult   
02:45PM    Bunbury Passenger Terminal to Perth Station (Perth City Platform 3)
Travelling on Australind Rail service 108 (arriving 5:15 PM)
Passenger Name     (Card Number)     Car     Seat
Robert DOW          Car 1     11


   

[ozbob]

Appears cannot pre-purchase a SmartRider (online)

Where can I purchase a SmartRider?  --> http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/SmartRider/Retail-Outlets

[#Metro]

Hope to spend a few days in Perth early 2017 for a look around (then Melbourne for a few days).

You'll love it Ozbob! Went there in January, easily Australia's best PT network. Warning - it is dry and hot, the sun is very strong!

Recommend Elizabeth Quay Station and Perth Central. Also Kings Park - highly recommended!!

And no visit to Perth is complete without a fast ferry to Rotto

[ozbob]

^ Thanks for the tips.  It has been quite a while since I was last in Perth (1980s).  A lot of changes - looking forward to it! 

[ozbob]

Rottnest Ferries  --> https://www.rottnestfastferries.com.au/

Tuesday 27th December 2016 – Sunday 8th January 2017

    Departing Hillarys          Departing Rottnest
    7:30am                        8:30am
    8:30am                      11:15am
    10:00am                     12:30pm
    10:30am                      4:00pm
    12:30pm                      5:00pm
    3:15pm                        6:15pm
    5:00pm                        8:00pm

Booked 6 Jan 17

Elizabeth Quay Stn to Hillarys Boat Harbour via train and bus

Catch Train Joondalup Line, Elizabeth Quay Stn Platform 1
(Stop Number 99611) to Warwick Stn Platform 2 (Stop Number 99832)
06:47am - 07:04am (17 mins)

Catch Bus 423, Warwick Station
(Stop Number 12552) to Hillarys Boat Harbour (Stop Number 18822)
07:10am - 07:28am (18 mins)

Arrive Hillarys Boat Harbour
(Stop number 18822)
07:28am 

[ozbob]

Visiting Perth

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/using-transperth/visiting-perth

Domestic Airport

Route 40 operates 7 days a week between Elizabeth Quay Bus Station and Perth Airport T3 and T4 via Great Eastern Hwy.

Route 37 operates 7 days a week between Kings park and Perth Airport T3 andT4 via Belmont Forum Shopping centre and Perth City.

Route 40 offers the most direct route to Perth Airport from Perth City.

Network Maps

--> http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Journey-Planner/Network-Maps

Timetables

--> http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Timetables

[ozbob]

Set, flights booked, accommodation sorted.

Some of the businesses and attractions within a 5-minute walk of hotel:

...
    Perth Bell Tower
    Perth Cultural Centre
    Hay Street and Murray Street pedestrian shopping malls
    Kings Park
   Perth Train Station (subway) < what's important when choosing hotel .. lol
   TransPerth City Bus Port 

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Trains at Perth station July 2016

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Getting to the Jetts Gym at Applecross

===============

Catch Train Mandurah Line, Elizabeth Quay Stn Platform 2
05:44am - 05:50am (6 mins) or 05:32am - 05:38am Canning Bridge Stn Platform 2

Walk
About 15 mins (990 metres)
Arrive 886 Canning Hwy Applecross 06:05am or 05:53am

[#Metro]

Once you have experienced the speed and quality of the Perth rail system, using the same trains as QR, you will never look at commuter rail quite the same again.

It's fast, its frequent, it's nimble! And their smartcard is very fast at opening the gates. Probably slightly faster than our Go Card.

[ozbob]

Looking forward to checking it all out. Hopefully no track closures when I am there. Will check out all lines.

Where I am staying is only a couple of minutes walk from Elizabeth Quay station too!

[Otto]

Check out the bus / train interchanges on the Mandurah line. Now that is what I call an interchange ( done properly ! )
I feel that the long distance between stations is what makes the transfer model work.

[#Metro]

Check out the bus / train interchanges on the Mandurah line. Now that is what I call an interchange ( done properly ! )
I feel that the long distance between stations is what makes the transfer model work.

Hope is not lost for Brisbane.

Many metro systems have closely spaced stations in city areas. They make up for that by running trains frequently, which results in time savings coming from cut waiting time, rather than speed. Brisbane could do this by adding more trains more often to existing lines in the off peak.

DOO and ATP would help that immensely.

Many ways to skin a cat!

[ozbob]

A timely reminder to book my ticket come October ..

Bunbury bound Australind approaching Oats St pic.twitter.com/LbBmfGUBPX

— Metro Man (@The_Rail_Life) September 23, 2016

[ozbob]

Perth Rail Map

> http://www.railmaps.com.au/perth.htm

[ozbob]

Armadale/Thornlie Line Shutdowns 6 - 22 January 2017

> http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/armadalelineclosures

Flying out of Perth on the 7th ... 

[ozbob]

Cannot purchase Smartrider (other than student) on line.  So will have to buy when I get to WA. 

Seems that there no retail outlets at Perth Airport that sell Smartrider so will have to buy at Perth Train Station when I get there (day I arrive, 2nd is a public holiday).


http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/contact-us/infocentres

Perth Station    Wellington St, Perth    Monday - Friday: 7.00am - 6.30pm
Saturday: 7.00am - 6.00pm
Sunday: 8.30am - 6.00pm
Public Holidays: 8.30am - 6.00pm (Excluding Christmas Day)
Perth Underground Station    Murray St entrance, Perth    Monday - Friday: 7.00am - 6.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am - 3.00pm
Public Holidays: 11.00am - 3.00pm (excluding Christmas day and Good Friday)

[verbatim9]

Bummer not being able to buy a smart card online or at the Airport. There might be a ticket vending machine at the bus stop like what they have in Adelaide. Love to go to Perth one day apparently you can drive just under an hour and you are in the desert with sand and spinifex.

[ozbob]

Slight change of plans now going to Bunbury on the Australind on Thursday 5th January, and now going to Geraldton on the 4th (air).

Geraldton has an old railway station and once was well served by rail.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231434940/view

Geraldton railway station was located on the Kwinana-Geraldton and Northampton lines in Western Australia. It served the city of Geraldton.

>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraldton_railway_station

[ozbob]

Planning do a few suburban trips on the 3rd Jan - forecast temp is 38^oC .. should be fun in the air con .. lol

[BrizCommuter]

Cannot purchase Smartrider (other than student) on line.  So will have to buy when I get to WA. 

Seems that there no retail outlets at Perth Airport that sell Smartrider so will have to buy at Perth Train Station when I get there (day I arrive, 2nd is a public holiday).

Has the same issue earlier in the year. Had to pay for cash fare to Busport to buy Smartrider. At least I have a slightly positive balance on the card now for any future visits.

[ozbob]

At BNE



I am #FleeQld   

[ozbob]

1st Officer for flight has gone to ' Tallarook ' ( he is crook ) ... waiting on a replacement.

Flight delayed for an hour ....  bit like the 524 bus hey?   

[ozbob]

Perth weather today ...

http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/perth.shtml

   Max 37
   Sunny.
   Possible rainfall: 0 mm
   Chance of any rain: 0%

Perth area

Sunny. Winds easterly 25 to 35 km/h easing and becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then shifting south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon.

[ozbob]

Hey there are plenty of of outlets at PER that could easily flog Smartrider ..

I walked to Perth Station and got my mine ( after arriving in Perth _ )

Very poor Transperth ...

[ozbob]

A couple of random pics ..









Photographs R Dow 2nd January 2017

[#Metro]

They also have ferries in Perth.

I like their SmartCard - you can use it to pay for paid parking at stations (all carparks now charged for) and it has a B-Pay Code printed on the front of the card too.

When I was there, I found the response times to be very good.

[ozbob]

Hey here&#39;s my Smartrider
,🤔 pic.twitter.com/emM9WDzrLZ

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 2, 2017

[ozbob]

Few photographs from travels on the rail network today ..



First service to Mandurah at Elizabeth Quay station




Canning Bridge Station








Canning Bridge Bus Station

Photographs R Dow 3rd January 2017

[ozbob]

Perth CBD CAT bus
















Mandurah - was that hot that the phone camera reported was too hot and was shutting down!

Photographs R Dow 3rd January 2017

[ozbob]

Back from Mandurah








Midland service at Perth

Photographs R Dow 3rd January 2017

[ozbob]

Midland




Dual gauge tracks at Midland




Thornlie








Changed at Cannington for Armadale




Armadale

Photographs R Dow 3rd January 2017

[ozbob]

Kelmscott station has bus interchange between the tracks on the platform in effect  Buses cross the railway line to access the station - this is possibly a risk but it looks marvellous with buses adjacent to trains.  The photographs don't show it that well.

Photographs R Dow 3rd January 2017


The rail network for Perth and its suburbs is not a major network but is very efficient and operates with minimum of fuss with frequency.  Connections and transfers are seamless.  All services travelled on today had good passenger loads, particularly inbound off peak Mandurah > Perth.  It really is very good overall.  All stations were clean, functional without being gold plated, and graffiti was very very sparse.  Perth is a very tidy place overall.

[ozbob]

Popped down to check out the Perth Bus Port

Interesting concept of dynamic bus route stand allocation (bit like airport departure and arrival gates - no fixed allocation).









Photographs R Dow 3rd January 2016

[Otto]

Hi Robert. Hope you are enjoying yourself with all Perth has to offer.

Think you may want to check this out. Looking impressive !

https://www.facebook.com/7NewsPerth/videos/10154302557649072/

[ozbob]

^ having a great time thanks Otto.  Yes I checked out the new stadium yesterday (from the train) very impressive the new stadium station etc.  I went out to Thornlie and Armadale before the disruptions start from Friday.  PTA had staff out at the major stations briefing passengers about the looming disruptions to their lines.

Off to Geraldton today.

[ozbob]

At PER ..



Photograph R Dow 4th January 2017