Overhaul for Port Hedland buses
The State Government is investing $5.2 million to overhaul town bus services in Port Hedland with improved routes, new buses, a new design and electronic ticketing.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the project would see the introduction of TransHedland services in the Pilbara township.
"This project will bring Port Hedland's public transport in line with that offered in Perth and other large regional centres," Mr Nalder said.
"The town will receive nine modern low-floor, fully accessible, air-conditioned buses which will be branded as TransHedland.
"SmartRider, the same fully integrated cashless ticketing system as is used on the Transperth system, will also be introduced, making it even easier for passengers to access public transport."
The Public Transport Authority (PTA) operates three public bus routes and a number of school bus services in the town.
The Minister said new bus stops would be installed by the Town of Port Hedland and bus routes renumbered to make them easier to understand.
"The process of rebranding and renumbering bus routes in regional towns, as well as introducing other smart transport initiatives such as SmartRider, has been taking place in regional towns across the State for a number of years," he said.
"In recent years towns like Geraldton, Albany, Busselton, and Bunbury have received this kind of investment - now I'm pleased to announce it's Port Hedland's turn."
The PTA will buy a depot in the town and maintain ownership of the buses. A contractor will be appointed to deliver the day-to-day bus operations.
Fact File
- Nine new TransHedland-branded buses to begin arriving in town later this year
- There are about 4,000 boardings on existing Port Hedland services in an average week
- A tender to operate the new TransHedland buses has been advertised