Our history

From trams to trains, ferries and buses, the history of transport in our State is an interesting and varied one

Transport Portfolio

Public transport has played a major part in the history of Western Australia.

A concise listing of historical public transport milestones from 1830 to the present is provided in in the tabs below:

More information

Battye Library

The J.S. Battye Library of WA History identifies, collects, organises, preserves and provides access to the State’s published documentary heritage as well as collections of original historical records.

Included in the collection are a number of transport-related history books and photographs, WA Government Railways and Metropolitan (Perth) Transport Trust reports, notices and timetables, and Midland Railway Company of Western Australia archives.

The Battye Library is on the third floor of the Alexander Library Building. The building is part of the Perth Cultural Centre, located between Francis Street and the James Street Mall in Northbridge.

More information about the library is available on the State Library of Western Australia website.

State Records Office

The State Records Office is responsible for managing, preserving and providing access to the State's archives.

The archives include a large collection of railway records including employment records of staff from the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). These records may be useful for family history researchers.

More information about the State Records Office can be found on their website.

Rail Heritage WA

Previously known as the WA Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society, Rail Heritage WA is dedicated to facilitating access to the history of railways in Western Australia. It manages and operates the Rail Transport Museum in Bassendean. The organisation has extensive railway archives and sells railway-related materials.

More information about the Rail Transport Museum and the activities of Rail Heritage WA are available on their website.

1830 to 1900

1831			First ferry service established (but short-lived)
1836			First adequate ferry service launched between Perth and Fremantle
1830’s	- 1870’s		Ferry services the only form of genuine public transport with improvements from sailing vessels to steam-driven passenger vessels (paddle steamers)
1877			Government agency with responsibility for railways within Western Australia is formed as Department of Works and Railways
1879	July	26	First Western Australian Government Railway from Geraldton to Northampton opened to traffic
1880	May	10	Foundation stone for Perth Station laid
1880	August	31	First Fremantle Railway Bridge opened
1881	March	1	Fremantle - Perth - Guildford line opened
1890’s			Horse buses operating in and out of the city via Hay and Barrack Streets
1890			Western Australian Government Railways established
1893	May	2	Perth - Armadale line opened
1893	May	2	Kelmscott Station opened
1897			Cannington Station opened
1897			Agreement is reached with the Perth Road Board to lay 17.25 miles (27.8km) of tramway tracks within the boundaries of the City
1898			Welshpool Station opened
1899	September	28	Perth Electric Tramways Ltd, commences tram operations along Hay Street from East Perth to Milligan Street. Tram services later extended to a number of other suburbs

1901 to 1950

1903			Perth’s first motor omnibus from Victoria Park to the City.
1903	- 1958		A range of private bus companies progressively developed and operated bus services through Perth.
1904			Midland Workshops begin operations
1905			Trams replace buses to Victoria Park. First tram to cross the Causeway and the launch of the Fremantle tramway service.
1906			Rivervale Station opened (renamed from Burswood)
1912			Mint Street Station opened (renamed from Haydons Siding)
1912	April	16	Queens Park Station opened (renamed from Woodlupine)
1914			Western Australian Government Railways and Tramways established
1919			Carlisle Station opened (renamed from Mint Street)
1920’s			Motor buses increasingly dominate public transport across metropolitan Perth.
1922			Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways and Electricity Supply established
1922	September	1	Victoria Park Station attended
1930			Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways, Ferries and Electricity Supply established
1933			First trolley buses introduced to boost the service provided by trams – considered a more modern alternative to trams.
1937			Australia’s first diesel electric railcar train: the Governor Class, operated fast daylight country services
1941			Railway Road Services commenced with one bus on the Perth-Kojonup via Boddington and Williams route
1946			Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways and Ferries established
1947	November	24	Inaugural Australind train between Perth and Bunbury
1947	November	24	Road bus services introduced between Perth and Bunbury, Brunswick Junction and South West Branch Lines to Busselton, Caves House, Flinders Bay, Nannup, Northcliffe, Boyup Brook and Collie
1948	May	4	Seaforth Station opened
1949			Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) established

1951 to 1975

1952			Tram services abolished in Fremantle.
1953	January	7	Australind tabled to stop for the first time at Armadale
1954	November	28	Dieselisation of WAGR began with the commissioning of the X Class diesel electric locomotives (48 acquired)
1954			Metropolitan passenger service modernised with 18 ADG diesel mechanical railcars
1955			Visiting Town Planning consultant Professor Gordon Stephenson (in association with Town Planning Commissioner Hepburn) published a comprehensive Metropolitan Regional Plan containing proposals for an electric railway to the northern suburbs.
1958			Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust (forerunner of Transperth). Took over the larger private bus companies, trams were retired from service. Last tram service in Perth operates to Inglewood.
1959	May	2	Lathlain Station opened
1964	January		Government took over the Midland Railway Co. of W.A. Ltd
1964	June		The Shopper and Bunbury Belle services between Perth and Bunbury introduced
1968	October	5	Suburban service operated entirely by diesel railcars
1968	October	8	Midland Rail and Road Passenger Terminal opened
1968/69			Beckenham Station opened (renamed from Higham)
1969			Last rubber tyred trolley buses retired.
1969	June	15	Perth Railway Station renamed City and East Perth station renamed Claisebrook
1971	November	22	Official introduction of the Prospector Service
1971	November	29	The Prospector railcar service began commercial operation between Perth and Kalgoorlie
1973	October	29	Challis Station opened
1974			Integration of Perth public transport took place when management of urban rail services was placed with the Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust (the forerunner to Transperth).
1975			September 19 Westrail image and logo introduced
1975			The Shopper and Bunbury Belle services withdrawn

1976 to 2000

1976	November	12	Westrail Centre officially opened
1978	December	22	Belmont Park Station opened (renamed from Goodwood)
1979	September	1	Suburban passenger services ceased on the Perth-Fremantle Line
1980	July	2	Kelmscott bus/rail transfer station opened
1983	July	29	Re-opening of the Perth-Fremantle suburban passenger line
1983	October	30	Low-level platform at Midland commissioned
1984	February	28	Removal of Claisebrook Station to Bennet Brook Railway, Whiteman Park
1984	May		New livery for Prospector
1985	May	28	Last Australind service to and from the old Bunbury Station
1985	May	29	Opening of the new Bunbury Passenger Terminal
1986	August	31	Transperth becomes an offical trading name
1987	November	5	Inauguration of the new Australind
1988			WA Government announced it would electrify the suburban rail system.
1988	November	14	Executive service on the Australind commenced
1989			Government announced it would build a new rail line along the Mitchell Freeway to the northern suburbs.
1989	November	14	Premier Peter Dowding hammered in the first spike of the Northern Suburbs Railway from Perth to Joondalup
1990	August	5	Electric power switched on to the suburban system
1991	August	1	Official opening of the latest North Fremantle Station (services actually commenced using the new station from 28 July)
1991	September		Electrified system commenced full operation on Armadale, Fremantle and Midland lines
1992			Joondalup Line opened
1993			Planning, coordination and policy functions for public transport transferred from the Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust to the Department of Transport
1993	March		Electrified system extended to Currambine
1994	March	4	Midland Workshops closes
1994	- 1998		Competitive tendering of bus and ferry services and call centre/information services.
1998	July		Decision made by Cabinet to separate and dispose of Westrail’s freight business
1999	December		Enabling legislation for the construction of the Southern Suburbs Railway south of Glen Iris to Mandurah passed (under Department of Planning and Infrastructure)
2000	December	17	Freight business sold to the Australian Railway Group along with the Westrail name and logo

2001 to 2010

2002	May		Perth Urban Rail Development (body responsible for the building of the Perth to Mandurah Railway) becomes a part of WAGR from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure
2002	November		The Railway (Jandakot to Perth) Bill 2002 passes through Parliament, enabling the Government authority to commence design and construction of the railway north of Glen Iris and directly up the Kwinana Freeway to Perth via the Direct Route
2003	February	3	Lathlain Station closed
2003	March		Perth Urban Rail Development changes its name to New MetroRail
2003	May	28	Transwa name and logo introduced (renamed from Country Passenger Division)
2003	July	1	The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia is formed through the amalgamation of Transperth, WAGR, School Bus Services and regional town bus services.
2003	November	13	The Mandurah Line gets the environmental green light
2003	December	16	Cabinet approves the awarding of two major contracts for the construction of the Mandurah Line component of the New MetroRail project – Package F (CBD tunnelling) and Package E freeway works (including work at the Narrows and Mt Henry bridges)
2004	February	1	PTA signs major contract for SmartRider ticketing system
2004	February	1	Minister for Planning and Infrastructure unveils next generation of clean, green buses: the new Euro 4 Mercedes Benz OC 500LE
2004	February	14	Package F contract signed with Leighton-Kumagai JV
2004	April	18	PTA signs major contract for centralised CCTV Monitoring System in major upgrade of security across the rail system
2004	April	26	State Government signs major contract for infrastructure and long-term supply of gas for new buses
2004	May	23	Package A Contract signed for the spine of the Mandurah Line
2004	June	13	Nowergup Depot opened and new railcars are unveiled
2004	June	28	New Prospector railcars enter service
2004	July	24	Bassendean Station upgrade completed – the first of the Building Better Stations projects to be completed
2004	August	4	Official opening of new high-tech driver training simulator at Claisebrook Depot
2004	August	18	First two of three hydrogen fuel cell buses arrive in Perth as part of a two-year international trial
2004	September	16	Inaugural PTA CEO appointed
2004	October	4	Clarkson Station opened and new EMUs enter service
2004	October	4	West Midland Station renamed Woodbridge Station
2004	November	6	New Armadale Station opened
2004	November	6	State Government awards the Package D contract for construction of the first three stations on the new Mandurah Line - Canning Bridge, Bull Creek and Murdoch Stations
2004	December	1	Central Monitoring Room officially opened
2005	January	11	CAT (Central Area Transit) service introduced in Joondalup
2005	January	29	Greenwood Station opened
2005	April	17	New Gosnells Station opened
2005	June	22	State Government awards the final major package of construction contracts for stations on the new Mandurah Line (Package C) - Rockingham, Warnbro (Waikiki) and Mandurah Stations
2005	July	29	Prospector railcars retired from service (first commenced services in Novermber 1971)
2005	August	1	New AvonLink railcars commence service
2005	August	7	Thornlie Station opened
2005	August	21	The prototype for Perth's new gas-powered Mercedes OC500 CAT (Central Area Transit) bus fleet enters service
2005	September	10	Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor officially opened
2006	February	2	First stage of tunnelling completed between Esplanade and Perth Underground (William Street)
2006	March	16	Track laying begins on the Mandurah Line
2006	June	4	First of twin rail tunnels completed with the second stage of tunnelling from Perth Underground (William Street) to Roe Street
2006	July	10	Last of the 31 new trains accepted for service
2006	August	31	Second tunnel linking Esplanade Station to Perth Underground (William Street) completed
2006	October	24	Breakthrough of final tunnel under Roe Street marks the successful completion of all tunnelling under the CBD
2006	December	22	WA State Government finalises contract for the delivery of 15 new trains (15 x 3-car sets)
2007	January	14	Cards for the Transperth SmartRider ticketing system go on sale to the general public
2007	March	4	MultiRider cards are withdrawn from sale
2007	August	11	First test train runs through the city tunnels between Roe Street and Narrows Bridge
2007	October	15	Perth Underground and Esplanade Station opened for Joondalup Line services
2007	November	9	First test train runs on the Mandurah Line between Perth and Rockingham
2007	December	23	Mandurah Line opened
2008	August	2	The new Victoria Park Station opened
2008	November	21	The upgraded Kelmscott Station officially opened.
2009	May	3	Transperth’s new ferry, the ‘MV Phillip Pendal’ launched.
2010	July	9	The Railway (Tilley to Karara) Bill 2010 passes through Parliament, establishing the legislative authority to build a new freight rail line from Karara, 300km north-east of Perth in WA’s Mid-West region, to Tilley, just north of Morawa.
2010	July	13	The Railway (Butler to Brighton) Act 2010 passes through Parliament, establishing the legislative authority to extend the metropolitan rail network approximately 7.5 kilometres north of Clarkson Station to a new park ’n’ ride and bus transfer station, called Butler Station.
2010	November	2	PTA announces new bus supply contract with Volvo Group Australia. The company will supply of a minimum 65 buses a year for five years with a five-year option.
2010	December	8	Butler Extension Project: $6m earthworks contract awarded.
2010	December	14	New Mirrabooka Bus Station opened.

2011 - Present

2011	August	27	Fremantle Station conservation project completed
2011	March	1	Perth City Link Rail: Alliance partners announced (the PTA, John Holland and GHD)
2011	May	20	Butler Extension Project: Three bridges contract awarded
2011	September	26	Butler Extension Project: $5.4m pit, pipe and fibre-optic cable system contract awarded
2012	January	31	Perth City Link Rail: Construction begins
2012	June	15	Queens Park Station upgrade completed
2012	July	16	Butler Extension Project: Butler Station construction begins
2012	August	10	Aubin Grove Station project announced
2012	August	15	new Perth Stadium Transport: Station design consultant and environment specialist contracts awarded
2012	November	13	Butler Extension Project: $20m signalling contract awarded
2012	November	17	new Perth Stadium Transport: Project Definition Plan released
2013	January	22	Perth City Link Bus: Alliance tender process begins
2013	July	1	Green CAT service starts
2013	July	18	Perth City Link Rail: First train through the new Fremantle Line tunnel
2013	August	14	Warnbro bus interchange complete
2013	October	13	new Perth Stadium Transport: Belmont Station closes
2013	October	15	Maddington Station upgrade completed
2013	December	5	Perth City Link Rail: Rail project completed
2014	January	5	Transperth App launched
2014	January	27	Route 950 "Superbus" introduced, running between Morley Busport and QEII via UWA and Perth
2014	April	5	Perth Station building conservation project begins
2014	October	3	Perth City Link Bus: Alliance partners announced (the PTA, Brookfield Multiplex and BG&E)
2014	February	13	Perth City Link Bus: Wellington Street Bus Station demolition begins
2014	May	16	Butler Station construction completed
2014	July	1	Paid parking introduced across entire rail network
2014	July	3	Beckenham Station upgrade completed
2014	July	25	Beaufort Street bus priority lane project completed
2014	August	9	Forrestfield-Airport Link route and tunnel details released
2014	August	25	First test train runs on the Joondalup Line extension to Butler Station
2014	September	21	First passenger train leaves Butler Station
2015	February	2	School bus services undergo significant changes to assist the transition of Year Seven students from primary school to high school
2015	March	3	Perth Stadium Transport: Stadium Station construction tender awarded
2015	March	5	The first of 70 new Volvo Euro 6 articulated buses introduced to the Transperth fleet
2015	April	25	Free travel for all passengers on ANZAC Day to mark the 100th year of the Gallipoli landings
2015	May	1	Three consortia short-listed to design and construct Forrestfield-Airport Link
2015	June	29	Beenyup Bus Depot begins operations
2015	July	1	Free Transperth travel for seniors extended
2015	August	5	Perth Stadium Transport: Stadium Station construction begins
2015	October	1	Mounts Bay Road Bus Priority Project completed
2015	October	15	Transperth launches bike security campaign
2015	October	20	Charles Street Bus Bridge project announced
2015	October	25	Forrestfield-Airport Link enabling bill passed
2015	November	1	New bus Route 380 introduced, delivering passengers to Perth Airport
2015	November	17	Perth Stadium Transport: Swan River pedestrian bridge construction begins
2016	January	1	TransHedland begins operating regional bus services in the Town of Port Hedland
2016	January	31	Esplanade bus and train stations are renamed to reference Elizabeth Quay
2016	January	31	Elizabeth Quay Jetty opens
2016	July	13	Perth Busport opens