- Public transport patronage reaches highest level in 11 years
- Nearly 149 million boardings were recorded in the 2024-25 financial year
- Boarding levels continue the strong recovery from COVID-19 impacts
- Bus and ferry boardings reached record levels
- Most passengers satisfied with Perth's public transport network
- Ellenbrook Line saw highest satisfaction from passengers across all train lines
Patronage across the public transport network has surged to near record levels with nearly 149 million boardings last financial year.
Data released by the Public Transport Authority shows there were 148.7 million boardings across the public transport network in 2024-25, an increase of three per cent from the previous year.
The boarding figures are the highest in 11 years and just short of the 2012-13 all-time record of 149.7 million boardings.
The figures highlight the continued resurgence of public transport use since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patronage fell to just 102 million boardings in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Both buses and ferries saw the highest level of usage on record with 85.9 million boardings on buses and 935,000 boardings on ferries.
Ferry patronage has seen significant growth in recent years, with boardings increasing by around 140 per cent over the past decade.
Trains also saw big numbers with 61.9 million boardings achieved, almost a four per cent increase from last year and the highest in nearly a decade. This includes a record 5.6 million boardings for the Airport Line, an increase of 15 per cent from the previous year.
The strong passenger numbers are in line with high satisfaction rates recorded amongst public transport users.
Thousands of passengers were surveyed in Transperth's annual Passenger Satisfaction Monitor (PSM), an independent survey of regular public transport users that covers all elements of their travel experience.
Now in its 36th year, the PSM is the most comprehensive and longest-running benchmarking survey of its kind in Australia, conducting more than 4,300 face-to-face interviews during a four-week period in the first half of the year.
Satisfaction levels across all modes remains high, with nine in 10 respondents expressing their satisfaction with Transperth services, including 97 per cent of CAT bus users and 100 per cent of ferry users.
Overall satisfaction is consistent across all train lines, with the Ellenbrook and Airport lines rating the highest satisfaction rate amongst passengers, with 96 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.
Off the back of the State Government's cost-of-living measures in the last few years, most bus, train and ferry passengers rate fares as being good or excellent value for money.
The measures include the previous two-zone fare cap, free travel every Sunday, free travel to and from school for students, and free travel every day of the week during the Summer of Free Public Transport.
Affordability of public transport use will improve again from 1 January, with the State Government's Suburban Flat Fare set to take effect.
The Suburban Flat Fare will see all fares on the public transport network capped to a single zone, meaning travel to anywhere on the network will cost $2.80 when using an autoload SmartRider.
On average, more than 70,000 commuters travel more than two zones every workday, meaning these changes will deliver savings to tens of thousands of people every single day.
For example, a person living in Dawesville who regularly uses public transport to commute into the city will save a further $625 a year in transport costs on top of the more than $3,000 they are already saving under the existing two-zone cap.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This is another fantastic outcome that shows just how important public transport is to the community.
"The bounce back we have seen since COVID-19 has been nation-leading, and there are now more Western Australians jumping on public transport than at any other time in the past 11 years.
"Every time someone chooses to jump on a bus, train or ferry, it's potentially another vehicle off the road and that's really important for keeping our road networks flowing and reducing congestion.
"Our government recognises how important a well-functioning public transport system is for our growing State, and that's why we've made significant investments to make it more affordable and accessible for everyone.
"The great news for the community is that from 1 January, public transport will become even more affordable, with our new Suburban Flat Fare kicking in.
"The introduction of the flat fare will put money back in the pockets of tens of thousands of commuters every single day.
"We want to see more people using public transport, and only our government will invest to make it easier and more affordable for every Western Australian to jump on a bus, train or ferry."
