Golden ticket to ride with public transport competition launched

• ​Golden SmartRider competition to encourage more people back onto public transport
• Four winners of Golden SmartRider competition to receive a year of free public transport
• New two-zone fare cap to come into effect from January 2022, potentially saving commuters thousands of dollars each year
• $15 million allocated in 2021-22 for SmartRider system upgrades

The McGowan Government has launched a new Golden SmartRider competition to encourage more commuters back onto public transport.

Western Australia has had the strongest return to public transport across the country, following the impacts of COVID-19, with services returning to about 85 per cent capacity.

In a bid to encourage more people back onto trains, buses and ferries, the McGowan Government is today launching a new Golden SmartRider competition.

Over the month of October, every commuter who travels on public transport and fills out an online entry form on the Transperth website will go into a draw to win.

One winner will be chosen each week and they will be entitled to one year's worth of free travel across the Transperth network.

The competition commences on Friday October 1, and commuters are encouraged to ensure their SmartRider details are up to date.

To continue to encourage people back onto public transport, the State Budget has allocated $15 million in 2021-22 to upgrade the SmartRider system across Perth.

This is part of a $57.8 million project to upgrade the SmartRider ticketing system, which will include the option for commuters to tag on to the network using their mobile phone or credit card - a key McGowan Government 2021 election commitment.

More than 4,200 new SmartRider machines and new Ticket Vending Machines will be installed, with the new payment technology expected to roll out across the network from 2023.

The McGowan Government's key election commitment to cap train fares to the cost of two zones will come into effect in January 2022.

From this date, commuters will only have to pay the cost of a two-zone fare, potentially saving commuters in the outer suburbs thousands of dollars each year.

Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

"Our train network is world-class and will soon be more accessible to even more people, with new rail lines reaching Yanchep, Ellenbrook and connecting Thornlie to Cockburn.

"While we have had one of the best public transport patronage recoveries in Australia, thanks to our strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to encourage more people back onto our network.

"Today we are launching the Golden SmartRider competition that will see four people given a year's worth of free public transport.

"We are also working hard to implement our key election commitments of capping fares to two zones and upgrading SmartRider technology, while delivering on our job-creating METRONET projects."

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Our two-zone fare cap, a key election commitment, is on track to be implemented from January 2022. 

"This will mean a huge saving for commuters, particularly for people who live in our outer suburbs.

"For example, someone catching the train from Mandurah to Perth currently pays $11.30 in cash but when our new two-zone fare cap comes into effect, they will only pay $4.90 in cash - a saving of $6.40 each way.

"We have also allocated $15 million this year to upgrade key SmartRider technology so that from 2023, commuters will have the option to pay by either credit card or their mobile smartphone.

"It's an exciting time for public transport across Perth with 15 METRONET projects completed, under construction, in procurement or in the planning phase."

Premier's office - 6552 5000

Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500