New TransAlbany buses get SmartRider technology

From next week, Albany’s public transport system will be known as TransAlbany, bringing the town into line with Western Australia’s other major population centres.

The rebranding of TransAlbany buses includes new livery to make them more easily identifiable as a public transport service.

As part of the change, the Public Transport Authority is also introducing the SmartRider ticketing system on TransAlbany services, after similar and successful roll-outs in Bunbury in 2012, Kalgoorlie in 2010 and Busselton in 2009.

The PTA’s regional town bus manager Matthew Saliacus said that the rebranding of the buses and installation of SmartRider will have significant benefits to the people of Albany. 

“These changes have been very successful in the other major regional centres, resulting in an increased public profile, community awareness and higher levels of patronage,” he said.

“SmartRider is still the only fully operational smartcard-based ticketing system in Australia and we now have more than 1.6 million cards operating in WA.”

On an average weekday our system records more than 750,000 tag on/tag off transactions,” he said.

To start using the SmartRider system, passengers simply need to purchase a card
($10 once-off fee for the card) from the Albany Retail Sales Office in Vine Street.

To use their card, passengers simply “tag on” when boarding a TransAlbany and “tag off” when alighting. 

 Mr Saliacus says SmartRider is a tried-and-tested system which allows passengers to get heavy discounts on their fare.

“In addition to the cost benefit to our passengers, Albany residents will now be able to travel seamlessly around Western Australia’s public transport network using their SmartRider card,” he said.

Mr Saliacus said it was important to note that many passengers’ existing timetables would not be affected.