Western Australia’s rail operations have taken a major leap forward, with the Public Transport Authority’s new control centre now fully operational in East Perth.
The Public Transport Operations Control Centre (PTOCC) will manage the entire Transperth rail network from a single, purpose-built facility. Covering 1000 square metres, the new hub includes a high-tech central monitoring room and a massive 100-square-metre screen displaying real-time data for every train across the system.
Located in the heart of East Perth, the facility is set to become the operational backbone of the state’s expanding rail network, which has seen rapid growth through METRONET – adding 72 kilometres of track and 23 stations in recent years.
“This is an incredible new facility that will serve as the nerve centre of our train network for many decades to come,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
The PTOCC integrates advanced technology to provide continuous oversight of roughly 500 kilometres of rail and nearly 10,000 weekly services. It’s also connected to the network’s thousands of CCTV feeds, enabling fast, coordinated responses to incidents and improving operational resilience.
The facility is closely linked with the broader rollout of Perth’s High Capacity Signalling (HCS) Project – a 10-year upgrade scheme to modernise the signalling system and boost overall rail capacity by up to 40 per cent.
HCS upgrades include new in-cab signalling equipment for 125 trains, the installation of more than 7,000 transponders to pinpoint train locations, and updates to over 600 passenger information displays across the network.
“When you step foot in this control centre you appreciate how complex our train network really is, and the hard work that goes in behind the scenes to keep it running smoothly every day,” Minister Saffioti said.
Both the PTOCC and the HCS program are jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.
