Perth is heading toward its biggest public transport year on record, with new figures showing more than 127 million boardings across buses, trains and ferries in the first 10 months of 2025 — a result that has already outpaced the city’s previous peak.
The numbers, released by the WA Government, mark a 2.6% rise — roughly 3 million extra trips — compared to the same period last year. The tally also moves past the long-standing 2013 benchmark, when 125.4 million boardings were recorded by November. While December typically trends lower, the network is now positioned to close out 2025 as Transperth’s strongest calendar year to date.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti credited METRONET construction and ongoing fare reforms for the uptick. “We’re on track for our biggest year of public transport usage on record,” she said, noting that cheaper travel options — including free Sunday services, free weekday travel for students and an upcoming one-zone fare cap launching January 1, 2026 — have helped push patronage higher. Contactless credit and debit card payments, set to roll out by year’s end, are expected to widen access further.
The surge follows earlier criticism from the Opposition, which argued that patronage in 2024–25 fell short of the state’s record year despite major METRONET spending. The Cook Government is banking on continued growth as the Armadale line reopens, the Byford rail extension comes online and the new Midland Station launches early next year.
The government notes the 127 million figure does not account for under-reported school bus services, suggesting the final 2025 total will be higher once all data is reconciled.