Regular customers of Perth’s Armadale train line will receive six months of free travel from the start of the anticipated 18-month closure on November 20.
The State Government said the decision was made in recognition of the disruption and inconvenience the closure would have on regular public transport commuters.
The new entitlement will mean daily users of public transport will save up to $1300 across the six-month period.
Those eligible must:
- be SmartRider users; and
- have used an Armadale/Thornlie line train service at least once a week for at least 13 weeks (non-consecutive) in the last six months
Those eligible will automatically have a free travel token applied to their SmartRider from November 20, 2023 to May 31, 2024, meaning they will not need to apply or register for the new free travel entitlement.
More information on the travel scheme, including a method for passengers to see if they are eligible, will be available on the Transperth website in the lead-up to the shutdown.
The free travel announcement comes as timetables for the replacement bus services are on the Transperth website, allowing passengers to start familiarising themselves with their public transport options ahead of the Armadale Line shutdown.
A combination of limited stop and all stop bus routes will give passengers options to get to the CBD and other local destinations. More than 100 additional buses will be used to help support the shutdown, while three new temporary bus interchanges are being built in Victoria Park, Cannington and Armadale.
Timetables for Australind replacement road coaches are also available, with passengers being offered a 50 per cent discount on fares during the shutdown.
The road coaches will stop at the same locations as the Australind train, with Kwinana as an additional stop on the limited stops service, allowing passengers to transfer to the Mandurah Line.
Transperth’s Journey Planner will be updated one month before the shutdown so that passengers can plan their journey in greater detail.
This week will also see the launch of a new advertising and public awareness campaign about the upcoming closure.
Over the coming weeks, Transperth staff will begin visiting Armadale line train stations to hand out information about the shutdown and discuss alternative travel options for impacted passengers, while TV, online, print and billboard advertisements will begin running this week.
Transport minister Rita Saffioti said the Government acknowledged that the next 18 months would be disruptive, particularly for regular Armadale line passengers.
“The decision to provide six months of free travel from the start of the shut is only fair given the significant disruption regular customers will face, and will put up to $1300 back in the pocket for those that continue to use the replacement services daily,” she said.
“This is one of the biggest public transport infrastructure projects we have ever undertaken and will see the complete transformation of a 130-year-old train line.
“In total there will be seven new stations constructed, the removal of 13 level crossings, the extension of the line to Byford and the creation of around six hectares of new public open space.”
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