Destination guides > Australia > Western Australia > Perth > Local transport
Perth
Local transport
Transperth (tel 13 62 13) operates Perth’s public transport network, which is comprised of buses, ferries and trains. It is a good value way to get around the city and there’s even free transport in the central area.
BUS
Buses form the backbone of Perth’s transport system and it is inevitable that you’ll ride them at some point or another, particularly if you want to get to the beaches.
Buses are free within the central area, although with regular buses it can be difficult to know which rides are free and which ones you have to pay for. Fortunately there are a couple of frequent bus routes confined to the free central area that are extremely popular with travellers. The Central Area Transit (CAT) buses run three routes – the Red CAT runs an east-west route in the city centre, the Yellow CAT goes between the city centre and East Perth and the more useful Blue CAT connects the hostels in Northbridge with the city centre. The only problem is that the CAT buses stop running shortly after 6pm. There is also an Orange CAT, which runs a loop around Fremantle.
Perth’s bus network covers a large area with buses running as far afield as Rockingham and Mandurah.
TRAIN
Perth’s rail network consists of five lines. The most useful is the Fremantle line, which runs from the city centre to Fremantle via Cottesloe. Trains run approximately every half hour.
City West, Esplanade, Perth, McIver and Claisebrook stations lie within the Free Transit Zone.
FERRY
Perth has a limited ferry service between Barrack Street Jetty in the city centre and Coode Street and Mends Street Jetties in South Perth. The Barrack Street Jetty to Mends Street Jetty ferry is a popular route for travellers visiting Perth Zoo. Ferries run around every 20 minutes.
FARES
Perth’s public transport network is great value, especially considering that there is free transport in the central Free Transit Zone. Even travel outside this zone is good value.
Like many other public transport networks, Perth is divided into different fare zones. Most attractions are in zones one and two; although the transport network extends as far as zone nine. A Perth to Fremantle train trip requires a two-zone ticket, as does a trip between the city centre and the domestic airport terminal.
A one-zone fare is $2.20 and a two-zone fare is $3.40.
If you’re planning on using a lot of public transport you may want to invest in a DayRider ticket that allows unlimited travel on Transperth buses, trains and ferries from 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays. A DayRider costs $8.10.
