Patronage figures soar on Perth-to-Mandurah railway

11/3/08

Patronage on the fast, direct Perth-to-Mandurah railway has already exceeded by more than 40 per cent the numbers forecast for the previous government’s planned deviation via Kenwick.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan told Parliament today that average weekday passenger journey numbers were more than 40,000 and reaching 45,000 on some days.

“We have exceeded 80 per cent of our predicted patronage in just 11 weeks, which is an outstanding result,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“So far, the new railway is carrying between two and three times as many passengers as the average 16,000 people who rode the buses along the same route.”

The Minister said she was amazed that the Opposition still appeared to support their inferior alternative route.

“Our strongest patronage is coming from the very stations the Opposition said we shouldn’t build, with current boardings at Canning Bridge (154 per cent), Bull Creek (128 per cent) and Murdoch (127 per cent) well above predicted numbers,” she said.

“Given the new line’s overwhelming acceptance, especially in Perth’s southern suburbs, it is surely time for the Opposition transport spokesperson to acknowledge he has got it wrong.”

Ms MacTiernan said the massive reorganisation of bus routes and increased frequencies and the addition of 80 new buses had also proved popular with patrons, especially at the busiest stations.

“About 60 per cent of passengers at Murdoch and Bull Creek are arriving by bus,” she said.

“Although we have more parking bays than at comparable stations on the Northern Line, we acknowledge car parks are full.

“We are building more bike storage facilities at Bull Creek and Murdoch to encourage those living within one or two kilometres of the station to use their bikes rather than cars.

“Over the next three months, we will also consider what opportunities there may be for additional car parks.”