Perth Central Area Transit
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
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{{Cleanup |reason=the routes are typeset poorly for Wikipedia. |date=February 2022}}
{{travel guide|date=March 2018}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2015}}
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{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Perth Central Area Transit
| logo = Perth Central Area Transit logo.svg
| logo_size = 200
| image =
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| company_slogan =
| parent = Transperth
| founded = 23 September 1996
| headquarters =
| locale = {{Plainlist|
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| service_area =
| service_type = Free city bus
| alliance =
| routes = {{#expr: 5 + 3 }}
| destinations =
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
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| operator =Transperth
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| website = {{url |https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Timetables/CAT-Timetables}}
}}
The Perth Central Area Transit (Perth CAT) system, or simply CAT, consists of five bus routes in the centre of Perth and three bus routes in Joondalup. CAT services formerly operated in Fremantle, and similar services exist in Rockingham (the City Centre Transit System) and Midland (the Midland Gate Shuttle). Unlike all other Transperth services, most CAT routes are free and a SmartRider is not needed.
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.[https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1996/05/New-'CAT'-free-bus-service-will-replace-City-Clipper-network-from-July.aspx New CAT free bus service will replace City Clipper network from July] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011603/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1996/05/New-%27CAT%27-free-bus-service-will-replace-City-Clipper-network-from-July.aspx |date=5 March 2016 }} Minister for Transport 15 May 1996[https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1996/09/Red-CAT-bus-service-starts-today.aspx Red CAT bus service starts-today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222083706/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1996/09/Red-CAT-bus-service-starts-today.aspx |date=22 December 2015 }} Minister for Transport 23 September 1996 The Yellow CAT was commenced in 2002 and the Green CAT route began on 30 June 2013.[http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/0/docs/Green%20CAT/TRANS10092_GreenCAT_Brochure_LR.pdf Green CAT Brochure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923163614/http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/0/docs/Green%20CAT/TRANS10092_GreenCAT_Brochure_LR.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }} Public Transport Authority The Purple CAT commenced on 27 February 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Service-Updates/Service-Update-Details/introduction-of-purple-cat |title=Introduction of Purple CAT |date=2022-02-27 |website=Transperth |access-date=2022-03-08 |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227105744/https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Service-Updates/Service-Update-Details/introduction-of-purple-cat |url-status=live }} These CAT services are operated by Transdev WA.{{cite web|url=https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders/contract/view.do?id=87811|title=Provision of Bus Services in the Perth Central Area Transit (CAT) Contract Area|publisher=Tenders WA|access-date=2022-09-01|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901023714/https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders/contract/view.do?id=87811|url-status=live}} The routes are funded by the Perth Parking Levy.{{cite web |title=Perth parking management |url=https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/projects/perth-parking.asp |website=Department of Transport |access-date=27 December 2024}}
Initially Perth CAT buses stopped at every stop, but with the introduction of the Purple CAT service passengers are now required to hail incoming buses and press the bell if they wish to alight.
{{maplink
|frame=yes
|frame-lat=-31.9517165
|frame-long=115.8596887
|frame-width=360
|frame-height=240
|text=The Central Area Transit (CAT) routes in the centre of Perth shown in their scheme colours.
|zoom=13
|type=line
|id=Q102123401
|stroke-colour=#005A9C
|stroke-width=5
|title=Blue CAT
|type2=line
|id2=Q102123516
|stroke-colour2=#A80532
|stroke-width2=5
|title2=Red CAT
|type3=line
|id3=Q102123561
|stroke-colour3=#FDB945
|stroke-width3=5
|title3=Yellow CAT
|type4=line
|id4=Q102123604
|stroke-colour4=#3CAE48
|stroke-width4=5
|title4=Green CAT
|type5=line
|id5=Q111148301
|stroke-colour5=#39207C
|stroke-width5=5
|title5=Purple CAT
}}
=Blue CAT=
{{Routemap
|legend = bus
|title = Blue CAT
|title-color = white
|title-bg = #005A9C
|navbar =
|map =
tKINTa~~ ~~Perth Busport {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|rail}}
tSTRe
HST~~ ~~Fitzgerald Street
HST~~ ~~Russell Square
HST~~ ~~Aberdeen Street Car Park
HST~~ ~~Aberdeen Street
HST~~ ~~TAFE West
BHF~~ ~~TAFE East
HST~~ ~~WA Museum Boola Bardip
INT(R)g~~ ~~Perth Station {{rint|rail}} {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|perth|transwa}}
HST~~ ~~Hay Street Mall
BHF~~ ~~Barrack Square
INT~~ ~~Elizabeth Quay {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|rail}} {{rint|ferry}}
HST~~ ~~Mill Street
HST~~ ~~Mount Street
HST~~ ~~Harvest Terrace
HST~~ ~~Fraser Avenue
HST~~ ~~Old Tea Pavilion
KBHFe~~ ~~Kings Park
}}
The Blue CAT, introduced on 23rd September 1996, runs between Kings Park and the Perth Busport via Elizabeth Quay Bus Station and Northbridge as bus route number 1. The route runs 15 minute frequencies every day. Some services do not run to Kings Park from Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.
=Red CAT=
{{Routemap
|legend = bus
|title = Red CAT
|title-color = white
|title-bg = #A80532
|navbar =
|map =
STR+l!~lBHF~L\STR+r!~lBHF~R~~ ~~Matagarup Bridge {{rint|perth|event}}
HST\STRf~~ ~~Nile Street
STRg\HST~~ ~~Trinity College
HST\STRf~~ ~~WACA
BS2l\BS2r
HST~~ ~~Queens Gardens
BS2+l\BS2+r
STRg\HST~~ ~~Carlton
HST\STRf~~ ~~Bennett Street
STRg\BHF~~ ~~Perth Mint
HST\STRf~~ ~~Mercedes College
STRg\HST~~ ~~Victoria Avenue
BHF\STRf~~ ~~Royal Perth Hospital
HST\STRf~~ ~~Murray Street
STRg\HST~~ ~~Town Hall
BS2l\BS2r
INT~~ ~~Perth Station {{rint|rail}} {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|perth|transwa}}
BS2+l\BS2+r
STRg\INT~~ ~~Perth Underground {{rint|rail}}
HST\STRf~~ ~~Raine Square
STRg\BHF~~ ~~Central Park
STRg\HST~~ ~~His Majesty's
HST\STRf~~ ~~King Street
STRg\HST~~ ~~QV1
HST\STRf~~ ~~Milligan Street
STRg\HST~~ ~~Parliament House
HST\STRf~~ ~~Gordon Street
STR2\STR3
STR+1\STR+4
STRf\HST~~ ~~Havelock Street
HST\STRg~~ ~~Emerald Terrace
STRf\HST~~ ~~Ord Street
HST\STRg~~ ~~West Perth
STRl!~lBHF~L\STRr!~lBHF~R~~ ~~Outram Street
}}
The Red CAT runs between West Perth and East Perth as bus route number 2. During peak times a shorter Red CAT travels between the Forrest Place stop opposite Perth railway station and the West Perth stop as bus route number 4 to meet high demand for travel between these. In addition, the West Perth Loop of the Red CAT travels from Perth Underground to Raine Square. The route runs 5 minute frequencies on weekdays and 8 minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.
=Yellow CAT=
{{Routemap
|legend = bus
|title = Yellow CAT
|title-color = white
|title-bg = #FDB945
|navbar =
|map =
KINTa~~ ~~Claisebrook Station {{rint|rail}}
HST~~ ~~Health Department
HST~~ ~~Education Department
HST~~ ~~Royal Square
HST~~ ~~Victoria Gardens
HST~~ ~~Nile Street
HST~~ ~~Main Roads
HST~~ ~~Old Girls School
BHF(L)f~~ ~~Bennett Street
HST~~ ~~Wellington Square
HST~~ ~~Hill Street
HST~~ ~~Royal Perth Hospital
HST~~ ~~Western Power
INT~~ ~~Perth Station {{rint|rail}} {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|perth|transwa}}
HST~~ ~~Yagan Square {{rint|perth|bus}}
HST~~ ~~Arena
HST~~ ~~Watertown
HST~~ ~~Harold Boas Gardens
BS2+l\BS2+r
HST\STRg~~ ~~Colin Street
STRl!~lBHF~L\STRr!~lBHF~R~~ ~~Perth Modern School
}}
The Yellow CAT, introduced on 15 December 2002, runs between East Perth and West Perth as bus route number 3. The route runs 6 minute frequencies on weekdays and 8 minute frequencies on weekends.
=Green CAT=
{{Routemap
|legend = bus
|title = Green CAT
|title-color = white
|title-bg = #3CAE48
|navbar =
|map =
KINTa~~ ~~Elizabeth Quay {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|rail}} {{rint|ferry}}
HST~~ ~~Mill Street
HST~~ ~~Mount Street
HST~~ ~~Harvest Terrace
HST~~ ~~Dumas House
BHF~~ ~~Colin Street South
HST~~ ~~Colin Street North
HST~~ ~~Harold Boas Gardens
HST~~ ~~Sutherland Street
INT~~ ~~City West Station {{rint|rail}} {{rint|perth|bus}}
KINTe~~ ~~Leederville Station {{rint|rail}} {{rint|perth|bus}}
}}
The Green CAT commenced on 1 July 2013, and runs between Leederville railway station and Elizabeth Quay Bus Station as bus route number 5. Intended to ease congestion in the central business district, the Green CAT does not run on weekends nor on public holidays. The route runs 10 minute frequencies on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
=Purple CAT=
{{Routemap
|legend = bus
|title = Purple CAT
|title-color = white
|title-bg = #6a0dad
|navbar =
|map =
KINTa~~ ~~Elizabeth Quay {{rint|perth|bus}} {{rint|rail}} {{rint|ferry}}
HST~~ ~~Mill Street
HST~~ ~~Mount Street
HST~~ ~~Harvest Terrace
HST~~ ~~Dumas House
HST~~ ~~Colin Street
HST~~ ~~Outram Street
BHF~~ ~~Thomas Street
HST~~ ~~Hamersley Road
HST~~ ~~Heytesbury Road
HST~~ ~~Nicholson Road
HST~~ ~~Rokeby Road
HST~~ ~~Onslow Road
INT~~ ~~Hospital Avenue North {{rint|perth|circle}}
INT~~ ~~QE II Medical Centre {{rint|perth|circle}}
INT~~ ~~Perth Children's Hospital {{rint|perth|circle}}
HST~~ ~~Monash Avenue
HST~~ ~~Hampden Road North
HST~~ ~~Karella Street
BHF~~ ~~Hampden Road South
BS2+l\BS2+r
STRg\BHF~~ ~~UWA
HST\STRf~~ ~~Cooper Street
HST\STRf~~ ~~Edward Street
STRg\HST~~ ~~UWA Guild
HST\STRf~~ ~~Broadway Fair North
HST\STRf~~ ~~Caporn Street
STRl!~lBHF~L\STRr!~lBHF~R~~ ~~UWA Business School
}}
The Purple CAT commenced on 27 February 2022, and runs between the University of Western Australia and Elizabeth Quay Bus Station via the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre as bus route number 6. The route runs 10 minute frequencies on weekdays and 15 minute frequencies on weekends.
Joondalup CAT
{{maplink
|frame=yes
|frame-lat=-31.7495159
|frame-long=115.7697717
|frame-width=240
|frame-height=240
|text=The CAT routes in Joondalup shown in their scheme colours.
|zoom=13
|type=line
|id=Q102169347
|stroke-colour=#005A9C
|stroke-width=5
|title=Joondalup Blue CAT
|type2=line
|id2=Q102169230
|stroke-colour2=#A80532
|stroke-width2=5
|title2=Joondalup Red CAT
|type3=line
|id3=Q102169434
|stroke-colour3=#FDB945
|stroke-width3=5
|title3=Joondalup Yellow CAT
}}
The Joondalup CAT started operating on 9 January 2006. It is currently operated by Swan Transit since 20 January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders/contract/view.do?id=65690|title=The Provision of Bus Services in the Marmion and Joondalup (including Joondalup CAT) Contract Areas|publisher=Tenders WA|access-date=2022-09-01|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901024022/https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders/contract/view.do?id=65690|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders/contract/view.do?id=100285|title=The Provision of Bus Services in the Claremont, Marmion and Joondalup (including Joondalup CAT) Contract Areas|publisher=Tenders WA|access-date=2022-09-01|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901023712/https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders/contract/view.do?id=100285|url-status=live}} It runs Monday to Friday around the Joondalup central business district as bus routes 10 (anticlockwise) and 11 (clockwise), as the Red and Blue CAT buses respectively.
On Mondays to Thursdays, Joondalup CAT also runs around the Joondalup Campus of Edith Cowan University as the Yellow CAT, or route 13, but only on the university's operating days.
Retired services
=Fremantle CAT=
A Fremantle CAT service operated in Fremantle between August 2000 and October 2023. Originating in 1997 as the Fremantle Clipper, it only operated on weekdays and public holidays with a 15 minute frequency. The original route alignment spanned between Beach Street and Parry Street on the north and south parts of the Fremantle CBD respectively. The contract to run the service was awarded to Path Transit, which was part of the Australian Transit Enterprises (now Keolis Downer) ownership, using their own (not PTA purchased) low-entry, Volgren CR221L-bodied, Dennis Dart SLF. It was then subsequently awarded to Southern Coast Transit (now Transdev WA).
The service was reintroduced in August 2000 as the incumbent Fremantle CAT and upgraded to run seven days a week with a frequency of 8 to 10 minutes, using short wheelbase Volgren CR225L-bodied Mercedes-Benz O405NH's sporting dedicated orange livery and fleet numbers 1178, 1179 and 1180.
The route alignment was amended at the same time and expanded to South Street, then further south to Douro Road in February 2002. The final extension to the Maritime Museum took place in December 2003. In May 2011, the original figure-8 alignment was split into 2 different colour-coded variations. Initially referred simply as the North Loop and South Loop during public consultation, it later became the Red CAT and Blue CAT respectively. October 2017 saw the Mercedes-Benz O405NHs withdrawn from the service and redeployed on regular Transperth routes until 2020; they were replaced with the Volgren CR228L-bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs that were previously used on the Perth CATs. They sported fleet numbers 114 (ex-CAT8), 115 (ex-CAT9) and 116 (ex-CAT10) and also their own dedicated livery.
Following a funding reduction by the City of Fremantle as a result from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red CAT service ceased operations on 15 August 2020. The Blue CAT frequency was also reduced to every 20 minute until October 2023, when the Fremantle CAT ceased operating after the City of Fremantle declined to continue co-funding the free service in May 2023. To compensate, the existing 532 bus route now operates more short trips along South Terrace, terminating at Hampton Rd after Culver St.{{cite web |date=1 August 2023 |title=Freo CAT route to be replaced by enhanced bus services |url=https://perthisok.com/news/freo-cat-route-to-be-replaced-by-enhanced-bus-services/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |publisher=Perth is OK!}} The Blue CAT, and the Fremantle CAT as a whole, have been withdrawn.
Similar services
=Rockingham City Centre Transit System=
The Rockingham City Centre Shuttle started operation on 23 December 2007. It is the only CAT service that charges a fare. It travels between Rockingham railway station and Rockingham Centre. It runs as bus route 555.
=Midland Gate Shuttle=
The Midland Gate Shuttle started operation on 5 July 2009. 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.[http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetablepdfs/Bus%20Timetable%2092%2020090705.pdf Route 300 timetable] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923180613/http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetablepdfs/Bus%20Timetable%2092%2020090705.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }} Transperth 5 July 2009
Fleet
Perth CAT
Cat17.jpg|Volgren CR228L-bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LE CNG formerly used on Perth CAT
Volvo B8RLE 2623 CAT.jpg|Volgren Optimus bodied Volvo B8RLE.
Perth CAT 2013 Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLE diesel TP2142.jpg|Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLE.
Fremantle CAT
Orange CAT (Transdev) Volgren CR225L bodied Mercedes-Benz O405NH.jpg|Volgren CR225L-bodied Mercedes-Benz O405NH formerly used by Fremantle CAT until 2017
Fremantle CAT 2006 Volgren CR228L bodied Mercedes-Benz OC 500 LE CNG 114.jpg|Volgren CR228L-bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LE CNG, this was the last model used by the Fremantle Cat services.
References
{{reflist |refs=
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See also
External links
- [http://www.showbus.com/australia/gallery/tpcat.htm Showbus gallery]
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Perth public transport}}
{{TransperthBusStations}}
Category:Bus transport in Perth, Western Australia