Karrinyup depot to be transformed for electric buses

The State Government's commitment to phase out diesel buses has been turbo-charged, with a major contract awarded to deliver new infrastructure at the Karrinyup Bus Depot.

The $12.3 million contract to retrofit Karrinyup depot will include the installation of EV charging equipment, substation upgrades, CCTV upgrades and other works to support a major fleet of electric buses.

Once the works are completed, the depot will be able to support 110 electric buses. The first electric bus is expected to be delivered to the depot in early 2026, which will also be the first to operate outside of the CBD.

The Karrinyup Bus Depot will be the second major Transperth facility to be upgraded with the charging infrastructure, following the installation of bus chargers at the Elizabeth Quay Bus Station last year. The upgrade works will be completed by the end of this year.

The redevelopment is part of a $250 million electric bus program, which will initially see 130 new EV buses replace their existing diesel counterparts. The program has been jointly funded between the State and Federal governments.

Karrinyup is one of a number of depots being prepared for the EV boost, which also includes upgrades to Malaga depot (capacity for 90 e-buses) and building a new depot at Bayswater (capacity for 130 e-buses).

Plans for EV upgrades to more depots are being progressed as part of the State Government's phase out of diesel buses.