Transport In Review 2023

[Zidanehartono]

Highlights of 2023 relating to our Perth public transport system and also some miscellaneous stuffs that still relates to the industry and/or significance. There might be some additions and/or changes that I've missed, so please add them here.

This Years Highlights

* Retiring of Australind Comeng ADP/ADQ railcars
* Alstom C-series trains
* 18-month Armadale Line Shutdown
* Bayswater Bridge & Station
* Perspex Security Screen trial for buses
* Kinetic and Dingo Bus Charter
* Kelsian and Horizons West
* Lakelands Station
* Midland & Airport Line Shutdown
* SmartRider Upgrade Project

JANUARY

6th - 27th: The upcoming Lakelands Station Bus Network opened for public consultation.

FEBRUARY

Mercedes-Benz O405NH's withdrawn from the TransAlbany town service and replaced with Volvo B7RLE's from Beckenham depot.
1st: Kelsian (formerly SeaLink) takes over Horizons West in time for the start of the school year; Kelsian also owns PTA WA-contractor Swan Transit and Go West.
10th - 12th: Swan Transit and West Coast Bus Charters (on Sunday) provided loop shuttle services to cater event patrons for the Perth Festival 'Djoondal' event at Yellagonga Regional Park, Joondalup.

MARCH

Refurbishment of the Kalamunda bus fleet commenced.
19th: Alstom C-series 128 delivered to Nowergup railcar depot during the wee hours of Sunday morning.
18th - 19th: Zion Coach Services and Peel Bus Hire & Charters selected as the operator of the shuttle service for the Channel Seven Mandurah Crabfest, taking over Buswest/ATG whose the previous operator.
26th: First tracks laid for the future Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
27th - 7th April: A Volvo BZL (Bus 4002) on loan to the Perth CAT's as part of the Electric Bus trial.
31th: A METRONET Trade Training Centre opens at the North Metropolitan TAFE Midland.

APRIL

Use of the Volvo BZL's extended on weekends.
31st March - 28th: Midland & Airport Line Shutdown
Full line closure to facilitate the removal of the old Bayswater bridge and train station, as well as the realignment of tracks, tunnel connection for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line and other associated essential works.
3th: Old Bayswater Station demolished.
15th: Old Bayswater Bridge removed.

MAY

7th: This year's High Voltage event in Fremantle saw the Airport Line running express between Redcliffe, Perth CBD and Fremantle; as well as shuttle bus services of Route 666 and 667 from Fremantle and Murdoch Station to Marine Terrace to cater event patrons.
15th - 26th: A Volvo BZL (Bus 4002) on loan to the Perth CAT's as part of the Electric Bus trial.

JUNE

The trial of a perspex security screen for the bus driver's cab; fitted to Bus 2666, 2777, 2786, 2787, 3278, 3279, 3300 and 3301.
9th: Unveiling of Alstom C-series Set 129, complete with seats, handrails and a new livery design. These interior and exterior specifications became pernament on existing Set 127, 128 (once test are complete) and subsequent trainsets.
After commencing operations in WA at the end of 2022 starting with a fleet of 6x Mercedes-Benz O500RS, Kinetic Group announced the acquisition of Midvale-based Dingo Bus Charter which saw Dingo's existing Midvale depot moved to High Wycombe.
11th: Lakelands Station on the Mandurah Line opens. Free travel on the entire Transperth network to coincide with the opening of the station.
12th:
* New Routes 574, 577 and 584 commenced operations under the new Lakelands Station Bus network which saw other changes, such as the truncation of Route 558 to operate between Warnbro and Rockingham.
* Path Transit now operates Route 292, Redcliffe Station - Perth Airport T3/T4 bus service. The route also no longer traverses via Boud Avenue and instead takes a direct route via Brearley Avenue.
* Trial Route 294 commenced operations; runs between High Wycombe Station and the Foodbank WA head office.

JULY

18th: Trial of TransEsperance public bus service extended for a further 12 months until July 2024.
23rd: One-off random working for Bus 3001 - the sole MAN NG313F/Custom Coaches CB60 on Midland/Airport Line train replacement bus services.

AUGUST

6th: The Wellington Street bus stops outside of the central Perth Station now split into 11 bus bays catering various Northern/Eastern bus services including High Frequency 950, 960 and 980, Yellow/Red CAT and train replacement bus services.

SEPTEMBER

100% diesel fleet at Malaga depot with the remaining OC500LE's transferred to Welshpool and B7RLE's 2700 - 2712, 2714 and 2715 in return.
Alstom C-series test program extends to live tracks on the Mandurah/Joondalup Line (ie. during the day when train services are running).
23th - 30th: C-series mockup on display to the public at the Perth Royal Show; the previous display event was back in April 2021 at Yagan Square in the city.
29th: SmartRider Upgrade Project announced.
30th: The Fremantle CAT ran its final laps of the loop; the last service at 6:20PM saw a crowd of fanfare before it ceased operations after 26 years of operations (Initially as the Fremantle Clipper 1997 to 2000).

OCTOBER

The trial of the perspex security screen for the buses concluded and deemed unsucessful.
8th: The redeveloped Bayswater Station partially reopens; leading to the interim Route 44 - Bayswater-Meltham shuttle bus concluding operations. Works on a second platform for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line is currently ongoing.
27th: Festival of Football - the grand opening of the State (Sam Kerr) Football Centre saw Path Transit operating shuttles to/from the venue.

NOVEMBER

17th: Final Australind passenger service using the Comeng ADP/ADQ Railcars.
18th/19th: Special farewell runs of the Australind whose reserved for special guests; leaving Bunbury at 9am, then arriving into Perth around midday before returning for Bunbury at 12:40pm.
19th: Comeng ADP/ADQ railcars withdrawn after its final journey and 36 years of service.
20th: The commencement of the 18-month long Armadale Line Shutdown which involves the Level Crossing Removal, extensions to Cockburn Central and Byford; and elevation of the train line between Carlisle and Beckenham.

DECEMBER

Ex-Fremantle CAT Bus 115 and 116 secured for preservation, with a private owner and the BPSWA respectively.
24th - 28th January: Free travel for SmartRider card users during the summer school holiday.

[pasha241]

maybe also add in September 2023
- The end of CNG Facilities at Malaga Depot.

[Enviro 500]

115 and 116 preserved? Are they driveable or static displays?

[Merc1107]

As far as I am aware, only the Transperth contractors have CNG refuelling facilities - or if anyone else has them, they're not known of publicly.

[Zidanehartono]

115 and 116 preserved? Are they driveable or static displays?

116 will be a display vehicle only with the tanks removed.

[Bus-1809]

Neither CAT 9 or CAT 10 are able to be started or driven.

CNG at was shut down in early October and remaining buses transferred to Bayswater. WPDEP gained back what was originally theirs...

[Enviro 500]

Neither CAT 9 or CAT 10 are able to be started or driven.

CNG at was shut down in early October and remaining buses transferred to Bayswater. WPDEP gained back what was originally theirs...

Meanwhile, some WP gassies were moved to SR while B7s from Beckenham were transferred.