REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE

1. Service Reliability

During 2006/07, Transperth changed the method of gathering data for its reliability performance, which had a significant effect on the outcomes in this annual report.

Trains: The service reliability target for Transperth train services is for 95% of services to arrive within three minutes of the scheduled time. In 2006/07, 86.4% of services met the on-time arrival target compared with 86.9% in 2005/06. The reduced on-time performance was due to delays caused by training of new drivers, infrastructure works speed restrictions, wet weather and heat restrictions. Increased patronage resulting in longer “dwell” times at stations during peak periods also contributed to delays.

Train service reliability has previously been manually determined from train control logs. However, the implementation of a new train control system during the year resulted in a fully automated and more precise reliability assessment. Consequently, a higher proportion of trains than previously were logged marginally outside the three-minute tolerance.

The move to the automated capture of service reliability is likely to have a permanent effect on reliability statistics. In addition, the introduction of services on the Southern Suburbs Railway will increase the average journey time. For both these reasons, the PTA will review its on-time parameters with a view to aligning them with other rail networks in Australia and with its bus services.

Buses: The service reliability target for Transperth bus services is for buses to arrive at or depart from a terminus or travel through a mid-route timing point within four minutes of the scheduled time.

Until January 2007, on-time performance was monitored by inspectors from Transperth’s Service Performance Unit performing physical checks at various locations on the bus network. In January 2007, following the full roll-out of the new SmartRider ticketing system, Transperth began using the SmartRider system’s “GPS Reporter” functionality to check on-time running based on a random sample of 1% of trips in each of the bus contract areas. The method provides a more accurate indication of service reliability.

In 2006/07, an average of 85.9% of bus services met the service reliability target compared with 91.7% in 2005/06. However, on-time running during the first six months averaged 92.6%, based on physical checks, while the average was 81.5% during the period from January 2007 when the SmartRider system’s “GPS Reporter” functionality was used. The move to a more precise capture of service reliability is likely to see the reporting of fewer bus services operating within the four-minute on-time tolerance period.

No other public transport authority in Australia has the technology and capacity to provide this precise level of automated checking of bus services.

Ferries: The service reliability target for the Transperth ferry services is for services to arrive within three minutes of the scheduled time. Previously, random checks were carried out by inspectors. In March 2007, Transperth began using the SmartRider system’s “GPS Reporter” functionality to monitor on-time running on the ferry service. Regardless of the change in recording method, 100% of services met the service reliability target throughout 2006/07.

2. Trends in Patronage

In 2006/07, annual patronage on the Transperth system exceeded 100 million for the first time. Total boardings* increased by 2.4% from 98.526 million to 100.926 million, while initial boardings# recorded an increase of 3.4% from 71.845 million to 74.260 million. Fare-paying boardings rose 3.2% from 60.053 million to 61.980 million.

Over the past five years, total boardings have increased by 15% and fare-paying boardings by 14%, or at an average annual rate of 3.2%. Between 2003/04 and 2006/07, total boardings on bus increased at an average annual rate of 3.1% while on train an average growth rate of 4.7% was recorded. The average rate of increase in fare-paying boardings was 2.3% on bus and 6.3% on train. In 2006/07, the ferry service, (which contributes around 0.5% to total patronage), recorded a high rate of growth (over 8%) in both total and fare-paying boardings for the second year in succession following four years of declining patronage.

Total capacity provided on the Transperth system expressed in terms of passenger place kilometres continued to increase. In 2006/07, Transperth provided total capacity amounting to 6,595.7 million passenger place kilometres, an increase of 3.3% from the 6,387.9 million recorded in 2005/06.

On a per capita basis, public transport usage within the Perth metropolitan area increased from 48.1 to 48.7 initial boardings. This increase of 1.3% compares with an increase in population of 2% in the Perth Statistical Division.

During 2006/07, Transperth successfully undertook a number of marketing initiatives to encourage the use of public transport to access special events. For the first time, the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) signed up to joint ticketing with Transperth for all AFL matches at Subiaco. This agreement allows patrons to travel to football games on public transport at no additional cost. Other major events for which public transport was organised for the first time were the 2007 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships and Red Bull Air Race.

*Total boardings = fare-paying boardings, free travel on passes, free travel on Central Area Transit services in Perth, Fremantle and Joondalup and free travel on services within the Perth Free Transit Zone, plus transfers between services.
#Initial boardings = fare-paying, free travel on passes, free travel on Central Area Transit services in Perth, Fremantle and Joondalup and free travel on services within the Perth Free Transit Zone.

3. Disability Access

Transperth aims to provide wheelchair access to all facilities and services, and made further progress toward achieving this objective during the year.

Trains: All Transperth trains are accessible by people in wheelchairs. The current status of accessibility of train stations is shown in the table.

Train station disability access

 INDEPENDENT ACCESS*PARTIAL ACCESS†LIMITED ACCESS†TOTAL STATIONS
2002/03
8
34
14
56
2003/04
11
33
12
56
2004/05
15
31
12
58
2005/06
16
31
12
59
2006/07
23
26
10
59

* Complies with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport and Guidelines under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
† Assistance available from Transperth customer service staff

Buses: Transperth continued its long-term program of increasing the number of accessible buses view image within its fleet through the purchase of 65 new low-floor accessible Compressed Natural Gas buses as part of the Daimler Chrysler Bus Supply Agreement. At 30 June 2007, the number of accessible buses was 616 in the total fleet of 1,114 buses (55%) compared with 550 in the then fleet of 1,058 buses (52%) at 30 June 2006.

Preference is given to operating accessible buses whenever possible, so that in off-peak periods most buses in service are accessible. During peak periods, when service demand is high, both accessible and non-accessible buses are fully committed. Accessible buses therefore accounted for over 66% of service kilometres during 2006/07 compared with 61% in 2005/06.

An additional 48 Compressed Natural Gas buses will be procured over the term of the bus supply contract to allow for the transfer of 44 existing diesel metropolitan route buses from Perth to major regional towns in Western Australia, part of a program to introduce accessible buses into major country centres over a four-year period from 2007/08. The additional buses will also allow for the introduction of four accessible buses to start the Rockingham City Centre Transit System (RCCTS). The RCCTS, which is due to commence service coinciding with the Southern Suburbs Railway, will be a shuttle service from the Rockingham train station, view image through the City Centre, to the Rockingham foreshore.

Transperth continued its program of upgrading accessibility at bus stations. During the year, work commenced on providing tactile paving, hazard identification and improved pavement access at Wellington Street and Mirrabooka bus stations to meet the new Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Amendment 2004 (No. 1).

Ferries: The bulk of Transperth’s ferry services are provided by the Shelley Taylor-Smith, view image which is an accessible vessel. While the two primary jetties in operation during the year, at Barrack Street view image in Perth and Mends Street view image in South Perth, are accessible, work on improving accessibility at the Barrack Street Jetty to meet the new Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Amendment 2004 (No. 1) was completed during the year. A new accessible ramp was also being developed at year’s end at Barrack Street to provide passengers easier access to the vessel. A more accessible floating jetty was being designed for Mends Street, with construction work expected to commence in late 2007/08.

4. Service Coverage

Transperth aims to ensure the maximum number of people in the community have ready access to its services. Service coverage view image is measured in terms of the proportion of Property Street Addresses (PSAs) within the Perth Public Transport Area (PPTA) which are less than 500 metres from a Transperth stop (bus, train, or ferry) providing an acceptable level of service. An acceptable level of service (ALS) is defined as an hourly service during the day with at least three trips per hour (i.e. at 20-minute intervals) in the peak flow direction in the morning and afternoon peaks.

In 2006/07, the proportion of PSAs within 500 metres of an ALS stop was 74%, relatively unchanged from the proportion in 2005/06. In 2004/05, the proportion was 70.6%.

5. Passenger Satisfaction

Transperth’s annual customer survey, the Passenger Satisfaction Monitor, showed that, on a system-wide basis, 83.0% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the overall level of service compared with 82.8% in 2006. (Details of satisfaction ratings for train, bus and ferry services are included in individual mode reports.)