City and country public transport users happy with service

Transperth and Transwa passengers are happier than ever with their services.

The latest edition of the independently conducted surveys show high satisfaction levels among regular bus, train and ferry users, and regional road coach and train passengers.

Now in its 28th year, the Transperth passenger satisfaction monitor (PSM) is the longest-running and most comprehensive survey of public transport users in the country.

It conducts more than 4,000 face-to-face interviews with bus, train and ferry passengers across all train lines and bus contract areas.

This year's results show 89 per cent of bus passengers are satisfied with their services - an all-time high. Train passengers also recorded an all-time high satisfaction level of 94 per cent.

The Transperth ferry recorded a 99 per cent satisfaction rating.

The results of the PSM are supported by research from national consumer research company, Canstar Blue which last year declared Transperth the winner of its City Trains - Most Satisfied Customers award for the fifth successive survey.

The 1,200 passengers surveyed on Transwa - WA's regional public transport provider - road coach and train services also recorded high satisfaction ratings, with nine in 10 happy with their service. Transwa's PSM has been running for 14 years.

Road coach users recorded a 94 per cent satisfaction rating, while regional train passenger satisfaction averaged 93 per cent.

Meanwhile, $500,000 has been allocated in the 2017-18 State Budget for a public awareness campaign aimed at enticing more patrons to use public transport.

Under the previous government, public transport investment and patronage steadily declined, with four million fewer boardings in 2015-16 compared with 2012-13.

This campaign will aim to bring commuters back to public transport as the McGowan Government embarks on its METRONET expansion program.

The full Transperth PSM survey is available online at http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"As Minister, I am pleased to see the hard work of staff at Transperth, Transwa and the Public Transport Authority is paying off with continued improvement in passenger satisfaction levels.

"The last few years have seen a decline in public transport patronage partly due to the downturn in the economy - these scores are evidence the standard of service continues to improve year on year. 

"I would urge anyone who hasn't tried public transport lately to hop on board, and see first-hand why the services are more highly rated than ever."

Minister's office - 6552 5500