Bus Routes - What would you do if you were in charge?

[WEMBLEY 75]

ROUTE 515 Murdoch to Jandakot via Jandakot Airport: Clockwise and Anticlockwise Routes

To improve service efficiency through the Jandakot Industrial Park and Airport, the ability for Route 515 to have designated clockwise and anticlockwise routes has been possible for a while now since the Pilatus Street extension to Berrigan Drive, close to the intersection with Jandakot Road was opened a few years ago. This will eliminate Jandakot trip deviations (515 J) from Karel Avenue.

The proposed clockwise route is normal Route 515 from Murdoch Station to the Karel Avenue / Berrigan Drive roundabout then first exit left (L) to continue along Karel Avenue to the Karel Avenue / Compass Road roundabout and then Karel Avenue, then left (L) into Marriott Road, left (L) into Pilatus Street, then bus continues to Berrigan Drive to the Route 515 terminus in Berrigan Drive, JANDAKOT. The clockwise route then continues via the current Route 515 from the Berrigan Drive terminus to Murdoch Station via Karel Avenue.

The proposed anti-clockwise route is normal Route 515 from Murdoch Station to the current Route 515 terminus in Berrigan Drive, JANDAKOT. The bus then returns to Murdoch Station via Berrigan Drive, continues via Pilatus Street, then right (R) into Marriott Road, then third exit right (R) into Karel Avenue, then at the Karel Avenue / Compass Road roundabout returns via Karel Avenue, then second exit right (R) into Karel Avenue at the Karel Avenue / Berrigan Drive roundabout, then bus continues vis the current Route 515 to Murdoch Station.

From the current Monday to Friday only timetable, Route 515 services departing Murdoch Station between 6.38 am to 1.12 pm operate in the clockwise direction. Services from 2.53 pm to 7.43 pm operate in the anti-clockwise direction. Similarly, the Route 515 services departing from Berrigan Drive to Murdoch Station between 6.50 am to 1.43 pm operate in the clockwise direction (direct via Karel Avenue) and services departing from 3.17 pm to 5.46 pm operate in the anticlockwise direction (via Pilatus Street). Passengers along the Berrigan Drive rural residential zone for travel to Murdoch Station will have to board the bus on the outward journey to the Berrigan Avenue terminus; but this occurs when demand for the service is likely to be low.

[Merc1107]

That's a interesting proposal to try and resolve something of a black hole on the network. I actually would go a step further and have the route travel to Cockburn Central, given the substantial development and shopping precinct there, which would hopefully justify a far more comprehensive timetable than exists at present. Bibra Lake is typically regarded as the facsimile of Leeming - yet look how much better their bus service is (particularly at night).

Aside from funding constraints, there can't be any particularly good reason to leave the route terminating at the current dead-end location. An extended route could run directly along Berrigan Dr & North Lake Rd, or more substantial reform could take place that would result in the 515 replacing part of the 520 in South Lake, to address highly variable journey times faced by that service having to turn right across Berrigan Dr once or twice in a trip.

[Enviro 500]

I think 515 already extends to Cockburn Central during school days.

As for the Armadale Line rail replacement network, I hope 528 (Kelmscott-Cockburn) stays. It can be amended to serve Piara Waters en route.

[WEMBLEY 75]

Yes correct, the 515 does a single Cockburn Central trip per school day in each direction. As for more trips to Cockburn the new freeway section between Berrigan Drive and North Lake / Armadale Road could be used for much quicker extensions. The buses can travel via Midgegooroo Avenue to loop by the shopping centre using the bus underpass to and from Cockburn Central Station.

Could the proposed Route 528 (Cockburn - Kelmscott) be an extension of Route 523 (Cockburn - Treeby)?

[Goated man 22]

Northern suburbs changes
Routes affect 41 48 66 354 370 385 388 449
41 will be deleted and replaced with new route 59
48 will become more frequent and now go on beechboro road south to bayswater station to Perth and renamed to 948
66 will now go to Perth busport but still will be limited stop
354 will go to Elizabeth Quey via Walcott Street Flinders Street and Beaufort Street
370 will go to Elizabeth quey not limited stop via morley drive alexander drive and Beaufort and William streets
385 will no longer limited stop and now go to Elizabeth quey via casserly Avenue Walcott Street Beaufort Street
388 will head to Elizabeth quey via wanneroo road Walcott Street and Beaufort Street
449 will be deleted
New routes 59 bassendean station perth busport via beachboro road south bayswater station guildford road
16 morley bus station perth busport via morley drive Charles Street
948 morley bus station Elizabeth quey via beacboro road south bayswater station guildford road

[Merc1107]

Why?

[esperanceguy47]

EXTERMINATE route 66 once and for all, it's just totally unnecessary given the mega-frequency of the 950 at peak in both directions...

[Merc1107]

I doubt the limited stops offers a compelling time advantage anyway. Maybe a true express would, but whether that's worth bothering with at this point...

[Enviro 500]

66 may fall victim to Ellenbrook Line rationalisation.

[HL7619]

Heres what route i have in mind a CAT route from Hillarys Boat Harbour to Scarbrough Beach and then to Karrinyup shopping Centre.
Hillarys Boat Harbour to Scarbrough Beach
Hillarys Boat Harbour up west coast drive, then up karrinyup road then down west coast highway and into Scarbough beach
Scarbrough Beach to Hillarys boat harbour via Karrinyup shopping Centre
STOPS
1. Hillarys Boat Harbour Stand 1
2. North Beach
3. Scarbrough Beach South

Scarbrough Beach up west coast highway then up karrinyup road into karrinyup shopping centre then up francis ave then down pascoe street then down milverton ave then down karrinyup road then up west coast highway into hillarys boat harbour

STOPS
4. Scarbrough Beach North
5. Karrinyup Shopping Centre
6. North Beach
7. Hillarys Boat Harbour Stand 2

Transperth Buses for the Cat Route
The service will hopefully be introduced in August 2024 as the incumbent Ocean CAT and will run seven days a week with a frequency of 10 to 15 minutes; using 3 Volvo Volgren Optimus B7RLEs sporting its deliciated white and turquoise livery and will have fleet numbers 2278, 2279 and 2280 and the route will be called the Turquoise Cat

[esperanceguy47]

Rather ambitious, this one ^
- and what's so special about 2278-80 that they'd need to be used?
- August 2024 is too late for summer 2023 & too early for summer 2024, introduce it this coming January, I say!

[HL7619]

Rather ambitious, this one ^
- and what's so special about 2278-80 that they'd need to be used?
- August 2024 is too late for summer 2023 & too early for summer 2024, introduce it this coming January, I say!

Well if they were to introduce this january that is only 2 months away and they would need to paint 2278, 2279 and 2280 in cat livery and get them refurbished and it would take till at least june 2024 to get it done and the reason why they would use 2278, 2279 and 2280 is to match up with freo cats ex nhs 1178, 1179 and 1180 and 2278, 2279 and 2280 are at karrinyup depot and it would be easier to start the shift at Scarbrough from karrinyup depot.

[Merc1107]

Well if they were to introduce this january that is only 2 months away and they would need to paint 2278, 2279 and 2280 in cat livery and get them refurbished and it would take till at least june 2024 to get it done

If it took that long to repaint three buses, they'd never have finished refurbishing the NHs, let alone anything else! Seeing as you've mentioned 1178-1180, while I haven't got exact dates for you, those reappeared in the standard green and silver livery only a month or so after their replacements entered service on the Fremantle CAT. What I don't know is whether those were done in-house or not, or even if this would affect how quickly the buses could be returned to service.

Buses sent off-site for refurb do not spend much time away, a matter of weeks, if that. However it was noted while the OCs were undergoing refurbishment that many buses were returning to service running far better than they had for quite some time, so evidently the contractors were taking advantage of buses already being off traffic to give them some well-earned TLC - but nothing ever spent so long off traffic.

[Enviro 500]

Rather ambitious, this one ^
- and what's so special about 2278-80 that they'd need to be used?
- August 2024 is too late for summer 2023 & too early for summer 2024, introduce it this coming January, I say!

Well if they were to introduce this january that is only 2 months away and they would need to paint 2278, 2279 and 2280 in cat livery and get them refurbished and it would take till at least june 2024 to get it done and the reason why they would use 2278, 2279 and 2280 is to match up with freo cats ex nhs 1178, 1179 and 1180 and 2278, 2279 and 2280 are at karrinyup depot and it would be easier to start the shift at Scarbrough from karrinyup depot.

I'd rather use 3366-68 because these are newer.

[HL7619]

Well if they were to introduce this january that is only 2 months away and they would need to paint 2278, 2279 and 2280 in cat livery and get them refurbished and it would take till at least june 2024 to get it done and the reason why they would use 2278, 2279 and 2280 is to match up with freo cats ex nhs 1178, 1179 and 1180 and 2278, 2279 and 2280 are at karrinyup depot and it would be easier to start the shift at Scarbrough from karrinyup depot.

I'd rather use 3366-68 because these are newer.

Well they will probably use 2278, 2279 and 2280 because they are B7 Optimus bodies and they have more carrying capacity of 82 passengers compared to 3366-3368 as they are B8 Optimus Bodies and they have less carried capacity of 80 Passengers and 2278, 2279 and 2280 will have to get refurbished soon and they will probably get painted into cat livery during the refurbishment. Even though 2278-2280 were delivered in 2015 they still have got at least another 15 years to go before retirement. Why use 3366-3368 on the route when they are already deployed on normal routes since they have been in the fleet for a couple of months when compared to 2278-2280 since they have been at karrinyup depot since 2021 and the reason why they would use 2278-2280 is because that they would have to try and match up with the fremantle cats ex nhs 1178, 1179 and 1180 and the B7s are a more fuel efficient bus

[Merc1107]

Even though 2278-2280 were delivered in 2015 they still have got at least another 15 years to go before retirement. Why use 3366-3368 on the route when they are already deployed on normal routes since they have been in the fleet for a couple of months when compared to 2278-2280 since they have been at karrinyup depot since 2021 and the reason why they would use 2278-2280 is because that they would have to try and match up with the fremantle cats ex nhs 1178, 1179 and 1180 and the B7s are a more fuel efficient bus

Typically in Perth, the newest buses are used on the frontline ... CircleRoute, Nightshift, special events, shifts with on-road relief, albeit with some exceptions related to the makeup of the fleet and scheduling issues specific to particular depots (or driver preference for an older bus). Why? A newer vehicle is typically less likely to experience technical difficulties (at least that's the assumption at play), and if it does experience a major failure, this will likely be covered by warranty, not to mention the good optics of having "new buses" everywhere for the public and drivers to swoon over.

While matching up fleet or route numbers as a sort of 'nod to the past' does appeal to a niche interest in the enthusiast community, with some quite vocal about route number changes being tantamount to erasing history, frankly, its all quite meaningless, really. They're just numbers, and the general public doesn't care what number the bus is, what number it used to be, what number it might be in twenty years, what colour the bus or stops are painted ... so long as the service is useful, the bus clean and presentable (erring towards newer buses) and the driver not some sort of arrogant cowboy, the public are happy.
During my last ride on a Fremantle Renault artic in May 2017 or thereabouts, on an afternoon 111 out of the City - I can recall a passenger within earshot of me in the middle of a phone call making the remark, "I'm on one of those old rattly buses, I don't understand why we always seem to get these". The public's perception of a service is everything.

[HL7619]

Heres what route i have in mind a CAT route from Kings Park to Claisebrook Station and call it the Black Cat
Kings Park to Claisebrook station Head down Kings Park road into Elizabeth Quay Bus station then down st Georges terrace and Adelaide Terrace then up plain street and down waterloo crescent down tralfagar road and down royal street into city farmer place

Claisebrook station to Kings Park City Farmer place down royal street up tralfgar road up waterloo crescnet up wellington street and then down barrack street into elizabeth quay bus station and up kings park road into kings park

Service Frequency will be every 10 Minutes

Heres also what i have in mind 3 City Gliders
City Glider 1 Turquoise City Glider Perth Busport to Scarbough beach via Glendlough station Buses Used 10 Volvo BZL Articulated Buses Numbers 4442-4451

City Glider 2 Maroon City Glider Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Claremont Used 7 Volvo BZL Midis Numbers 4057-4063

City Glider 3 Gold City Glider Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to Mount Lawley Used 7 Volvo BZL Midis Numbers 4039-4045

with the city gliders introduce will we have 6 Cat Routes Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Purple and Black and 3 City Gliders Turquoise, Maroon and Gold and the Perth Cats will continue to have a free service and the city glider will be pre pay service only

[Traklink]

The recent announcement of free travel on Sundays got me thinking about bus routes that currently lack services that day, and ought to be upgraded to run throughout the week.

So here's my list, ranked roughly in order from high to low priority.

**Indicates a route that would start running on Saturdays as well.

Acceptable Service Level (ASL) routes with no Sunday service, where alternative routes are a long walk away
207, 229, 243, 336, 424, 460**, 463, 471, 516, 592, 597

ASL routes with no Sunday service, where alternative routes are a moderate walk away
68, 83**, 210, 244, 282, 343, 466, 553**, 554**
Thornlie-Maddington section of route 228
Stirling-Karrinyup section of route 422
Thornlie-Huntingdale section of route 517
Murdoch-Piara Waters section of route 519**

Non-ASL routes that justify an upgrade to ASL
307**, 569**

Routes that link to major destinations or transfer hubs
20, 36**, 37**, 96**, 97**, 300, 301, 355**, 378, 406**, 449**, 509
Manning-Curtin section of route 30**
Whitfords-Landsdale section of route 376**
Warwick-Balcatta section of route 428

Routes that contribute to frequency increases along combined corridors
It may be worth increasing the frequency of other nearby routes instead
81**, 202, 204**, 327**, 342, 360**

Routes that cover smaller, localised coverage gaps
334, 462**, 550**, 577**

Routes that fall into the above categories, but fall well short of the ASL
25, 201**, 240**, 505**, 515**

Semi-rural routes with Saturday services
251/251/253, 328, 600

And routes where I consider Sunday services to not be particularly justified at the moment:

Peak-only or pseudo-school-bus routes
23, 66, 95, 111, 158, 223, 230, 249, 272, 274, 279, 281, 313, 321, 370, 385, 506, 534, 604, 605

Industrial area routes
208, 284, 285, 293, 294, 407, 413, 427

Duplicate routes
101, 103, 179, 211, 219, 290, 326, 354, 404, 474, 503, 504

Semi-rural routes without Saturday services
312, 331, 335

Of course there is also the problem of routes with limited Sunday services (e.g. 120-minute frequency) or that unreasonably fall off a frequency cliff (like the 415) - but that might be for another post.

[Enviro 500]

Don't think 23 actually runs on Sunday. That being said, it can be replaced with trip deviations on 995.

995 itself can be merged with 950 northern leg.

950 southern leg can merge with 970, providing direct links between Charles and William Streets.