Perth Central Area Transit
The Perth Central Area Transit System (Perth CAT), or simply CAT, is four bus routes in the centre of Perth, two bus routes in Fremantle, and three bus routes in Joondalup. Also included is the Rockingham City Centre Transit System and the Midland Gate Shuttle. Unlike all other Transperth services, most CAT routes are zero-fare.
Parent | Transperth |
---|---|
Founded | 23 September 1996 |
Locale | Perth Fremantle Joondalup |
Service type | Free city bus |
Routes | 11 |
Operator | Swan Transit Transdev WA |
Website | transperth |
Perth CAT
On 23 September 1996, MetroBus commenced operating two CAT routes: the Red CAT and the Blue CAT, replacing the City Clipper services that had operated since September 1973.[1][2] The Yellow CAT was commenced in 2002 and the Green CAT route began on 30 June 2013.[3] These CAT services are operated by Transdev WA.
Blue CAT
The Blue CAT runs between Perth and Northbridge areas, including Barrack Street Jetty and Elizabeth Quay Bus Station. Blue CAT runs as bus route number 1. Blue CAT has 14 (stop 3 currently not in use) stops including:[4]
- [12217] Elizabeth Quay Bus Station B55BT
- [16974] Barrack SquareF
- [26789] Hay Street Mall East2(currently not in use)
- [12129] Beaufort Street BridgeT
- [12130] Museum
- [12936] Art Centre
- [12937] TAFE
- [12938] Aberdeen Street
- [12939] Francis Street
- [12933] Russell Square
- [12934] Northbridge
- [12935] James Street
- [10221] Horseshoe BridgeT
- [10223] Perth Underground2T
Red CAT
The Red CAT runs between West Perth and East Perth areas, including Perth Central areas. Red CAT runs as bus route number 2. Red CAT has 29 stops (stop 9 currently not in use) including:[4]
- [16938] WACA Ground
- [16951] Don Aitken Centre3
- [12914] Plain Street3
- [12915] Wellington Square3
- [16907] Carlton
- [16909] Perth Mint
- [16910] Victoria Avenue
- [16911] Town Hall East
- [26789] Hay Street Mall East1(currently not in use)
- [12924] Forrest Place
- [10223] Perth Underground1T
- [16912] Central Park
- [16913] His Majesty's
- [16914] QV.1
- [16916] Parliament
- [16917] Emerald Terrace
- [16919] West Perth
- [17511] Outram Street
- [17509] Ord Street
- [17510] Havelock Street
- [17497] Gordon Street
- [17498] Milligan Street
- [17499] Raine SquareT
- [12901] Perth station3T
- [16972] Murray Street
- [16968] Royal Perth Hospital
- [16969] Mercedes College
- [16971] Bennett Street
- [16937] Queens Gardens
There is also a shorter version of the Red CAT route, run in peak times, that runs from Perth station (Forrest Place stop) to West Perth. This route is numbered 4 and was introduced due to high demand for the Red CAT from Perth station into West Perth. Another is the West Perth Loop for the Red CAT route, serving stops 11 to 23 only.
Yellow CAT
The Yellow CAT runs between East Perth, Perth and West Perth areas along Wellington Street, including Roe Street bus station, Perth railway station and Claisebrook railway station. It was introduced on 15 December 2002.[5] Yellow CAT runs as bus route number 3. Yellow CAT has 36 stops including:[4]
- [16965] Claisebrook stationT
- [16957] Royal Street Car Park
- [16958] East Perth TAFE
- [16959] Royal Square
- [16960] Victoria Gardens
- [16949] Nile Street
- [16951] Don Aitken Centre2
- [12914] Plain Street2
- [12915] Wellington Square2
- [12917] Hill Street
- [12919] Lord Street
- [12920] Royal Perth Hospital South
- [12923] Western Power
- [12924] Forrest Place2T
- [23084] Raine Square2B
- [23085] Arena
- [23086] Sutherland Street
- [12928] Harold Boas Gardens South5
- [23087] Colin Street
- [23088] Thomas Street
- [12895] Harold Boas Gardens North5
- [23090] Sutherland Street
- [23091] Arena
- [12900] Yagan SquareB
- [12901] Perth station2T
- [12904] Pier Street
- [12907] Royal Perth Hospital North
- [12909] Wellington Fair
- [12911] Wellington Square North
- [12913] Police Traffic Branch
- [16944] Main Roads
- [16946] East Perth Cemeteries
- [16952] Haig Park Circle
- [16954] Regal Place
- [16955] Education Department
- [16956] Health Department
Green CAT
The Green CAT commenced running between Leederville station and Elizabeth Quay Bus Station via City West station, through West Perth on 1 July 2013.[6] It is designed to ease congestion on the existing Red CAT service and in the CBD train stations. Green CAT runs as bus route number 5. Green CAT does not run on weekends or public holidays. Green CAT has 20 stops including:[4]
- [12218] Elizabeth Quay Bus Station B41BT
- [10091] Mill Street
- [10092] Milligan Street
- [10093] Harvest Terrace
- [10094] Havelock Street
- [26650] Ord Street
- [26652] Hay Street
- [12895] Harold Boas Gardens North3
- [26654] Sutherland Street
- [12932] City West stationT
- [26656] Leederville stationT
- [12931] City West stationT
- [26665] Sutherland Street
- [12928] Harold Boas Gardens South3
- [26653] Hay Street
- [26651] Kings Park Road
- [10113] Havelock Street
- [10114] Harvest Terrace
- [10115] Milligan Street
- [10117] Cloisters
Fremantle CAT
On 26 August 2000, a CAT service commenced in Fremantle.[7][8] Today there are two Fremantle CAT routes: the Fremantle Red CAT and Fremantle Blue CAT. They go to tourist destinations in Fremantle. These CAT service are operated by Transdev WA. Fremantle CAT is served by two routes, and has 30 stops in total including:[9]
Red CAT – Route 6 | Blue CAT – Route 7 |
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Joondalup CAT
The Joondalup CAT started operation on 9 January 2006, and was operated by Path Transit, but had been operated by Transdev WA from 1 May 2011 to 17 January 2020, subsequently by Swan Transit since 20 January 2020.[10][11] It runs as bus routes 10 (anti-clockwise) and 11 (clockwise) around the Joondalup CBD, operating Monday to Friday; and bus route 13 running a clockwise, after hours clockwise circle around Edith Cowan University's Joondalup Campus, operating Monday to Thursday on ECU university days only. The stops are as follows:[12]
Red CAT – Route 10 | Blue CAT – Route 11 |
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Yellow CAT – Route 13 | |
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Rockingham City Centre Transit System
The Rockingham City Centre Shuttle started operation on 23 December 2007, and is operated by Transdev WA. It is the only CAT service that charges a fare. It runs as bus route 555. It travels around Rockingham City, and stops at:[13]
To Rockingham beach | To Rockingham station |
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Midland Gate Shuttle
The Midland Gate Shuttle started operation on 5 July 2009, and is operated by Swan Transit. It runs as route 300 and does not operate on Sundays and Public holidays. It travels in an anti-clockwise circle from Midland station around Midland Gate Shopping Centre and then back to Midland station, and stops at:[14]
- [14622] Midland station Stand 5BT
- Helena Street
- Great Eastern Highway
- [14533] Tuohy Lane
- [14534] Cale Street
- [14535] Sayer Street
- Lloyd Street
- The Crescent
- [14673] Mellar Court
- [14674] Templeman Place
- [23938] Sayer Street
- [14676] Cale Street
- Keane Street
- [14678] The Avenue
- The Avenue
- Old Great Northern Highway
- [25695] The Avenue
- Great Eastern Highway
- Helena Street
- [14628] Victoria Street
- [23819] Midland stationBT
Key
1 – interchange with Blue CAT
2 – interchange with Red CAT
3 – interchange with Yellow CAT
5 – interchange with Green CAT
T – interchange with train
B – interchange with bus
CR – interchange with CircleRoute
F – interchange with ferry
Bus fleets
The CAT services commenced in 1996 with 16 diesel-hydraulic engine powered, Scania-Danish Automobile Building Silkeborg MidCity Series II 0860S low-floor, wheelchair accessible city buses.[15]. In 2001, due to high demand, five Volgren CR226L bodied Mercedes-Benz O 405 NHs were implemented in the CAT fleet along with the Scania-Danish Automobile Building Silkeborg MidCity Series II 0860S. However, the Silkeborg MidCity Series II 0860S and the Mercedes-Benz O405NHs were replaced in August 2005 and July 2006 respectively by 25 Volgren CR228L bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs that are fuelled by compressed natural gas and 16 Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLEs.[16][17] In addition to the designated fleet, other Transperth liveried buses can sometimes be used. On January 2013, the Perth CAT introduced the Volvo B5RLEH as a demonstrator model.[18] In 2016, a new fleet of 32 Volgren bodied Volvo B8RLEs replaced the Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs.[19][20][21]
The Fremantle CAT fleet consists of three Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs introduced in September 2017, replacing the Mercedes-Benz O405NHs that had been used since 2000,[22] the Joondalup CAT fleet consists of two Volvo B8RLEs (previously Mercedes-Benz O405NHs) and the Rockingham CAT fleet consists of three Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs.
The Midland Shuttle is currently operated by a sole Volvo B7RLE.
References
- New CAT free bus service will replace City Clipper network from July Minister for Transport 15 May 1996
- Red CAT bus service starts-today Minister for Transport 23 September 1996
- Green CAT Brochure Public Transport Authority
- CAT Timetable Transperth 31 January 2016
- Yellow CAT set to serve East Perth residents Minister for Planning & Infrastructure 6 November 2002
- Free Green CAT starts tomorrow Minister for Transport 30 June 2013
- Fremantle Clipper to become a seven day service Minister for Transport 23 February 2000
- Minister unveils distinctive new CAT buses for Fremantle Minister for Transport 26 August 2000
- Fremantle CAT timetable Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transperth 12 April 2015
- Gallop Government gears up for new Joondalup CAT service Minister for Planning & Infrastructure 11 January 2005
- Annual Plan 2005/2006 Progress Report City of Joondalup
- Joondalup CAT timetable Archived 19 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transperth 21 March 2015
- Route 555 timetable Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transperth 20 September 2009
- Route 300 timetable Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transperth 5 July 2009
- Unveiling of one of new CAT buses to replace Clippers Minister for Transport 15 May 1996
- New CAT bus fleet provides a better ride for city commuters Minister for Planning & Infrastructure 23 January 2005
- New look, new home and new route for bigger, greener CAT bus fleet Minister for Planning & Infrastructure 21 August 2005
- Wood, Matt (21 August 2013). "REVIEW: VOLVO B5RLE HYBRID". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- WA to buy cleanest diesel buses Minister for Transport 10 August 2015
- Diesel-electric CAT bus trial deemed a failure The West Australian 10 August 2015
- No electric buses for Perth Australasian Bus & Coach 17 August 2015
- Criddle, Murray. "Minister unveils distinctive new CAT buses for Fremantle". Retrieved 3 January 2018.