Public transport patronage surges to near record levels

Patronage across the public transport network has surged to near record levels with nearly 149 million boardings last financial year.

Data released by the Public Transport Authority shows there were 148.7 million boardings across the public transport network in 2024-25, an increase of three per cent from the previous year.

The boarding figures are the highest in 11 years and just short of the 2012-13 all-time record of 149.7 million boardings.

The figures highlight the continued resurgence of public transport use since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patronage fell to just 102 million boardings in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Both buses and ferries saw the highest level of usage on record with 85.9 million boardings on buses and 935,000 boardings on ferries.

Ferry patronage has seen significant growth in recent years, with boardings increasing by around 140 per cent over the past decade.

Trains also saw big numbers with 61.9 million boardings achieved, almost a four per cent increase from last year and the highest in nearly a decade. This includes a record 5.6 million boardings for the Airport Line, an increase of 15 per cent from the previous year.

The strong passenger numbers are in line with high satisfaction rates recorded amongst public transport users.

Thousands of passengers were surveyed in Transperth's annual Passenger Satisfaction Monitor (PSM), an independent survey of regular public transport users that covers all elements of their travel experience.

Now in its 36th year, the PSM is the most comprehensive and longest-running benchmarking survey of its kind in Australia, conducting more than 4,300 face-to-face interviews during a four-week period in the first half of the year.

Satisfaction levels across all modes remains high, with nine in 10 respondents expressing their satisfaction with Transperth services, including 97 per cent of CAT bus users and 100 per cent of ferry users.

Overall satisfaction is consistent across all train lines, with the Ellenbrook and Airport lines rating the highest satisfaction rate amongst passengers, with 96 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.

Off the back of the State Government's cost-of-living measures in the last few years, most bus, train and ferry passengers rate fares as being good or excellent value for money.

The measures include the previous two-zone fare cap, free travel every Sunday, free travel to and from school for students, and free travel every day of the week during the Summer of Free Public Transport.

Affordability of public transport use will improve again from 1 January, with the State Government's Suburban Flat Fare set to take effect.

The Suburban Flat Fare will see all fares on the public transport network capped to a single zone, meaning travel to anywhere on the network will cost $2.80 when using an autoload SmartRider.