Coach service favoured in Perth as rail patronage drops
The Avon Valley train service (above)
will soon be no more – stuck at the East Perth railway station. Image / supplied
August 22, 2013
Coaches will replace the AvonLink train between Northam and Perth at the end of this year due to a rapid decline in passengers in a move to save taxpayer dollars and boost tourism.
The new government-owned coach service will operate twice as often as the train and will take place from December 30.
Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes says patronage of service has been poor for some time and about 30 people use each service – which has a capacity of 130 seats.
Hynes says the move will save hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars and will also encourage more tourists to the area.
“The PTA has taken the responsible decision to operate a service that is still capable of moving all our passengers, but in a more cost-effective way,” he says.
“The additional trips (return to Northam in the morning and Midland in the late afternoon) are designed to encourage tourists to visit Northam and Toodyay by offering same-day travel. In all other respects, the services are comparable.”
Coaches were chosen as the replacement as that was the most cost effective option, according to a spokesperson.
Timetables are yet to be finalised and the service has been in operation since 1995.