Transport in Perth, Western Australia

Transport in Perth, Western Australia, is served by various means, among them an extensive highway/freeway network and a substantial system of commuter rail lines and bus routes.

[1] Land transportation was difficult as the only river crossing near Perth, a ford at the eastern end of the town, was often impassable for wagons and carts.

[1] The only alternative to these river crossings were ferries, which operated from North Fremantle,[2] Preston Point,[3][4] and The Narrows.

[5] The port city of Fremantle, and adjacent suburbs, are linked to the city centre via Stirling Highway, which travels on the north side of the Swan River after crossing into North Fremantle on the Stirling Bridge.

Marmion Avenue is the northern continuation of West Coast Highway, which runs near the coastline, from Swanbourne to Trigg.

There is a plan presently underway to extend Roe Highway, Perth's southern half of its ring road, towards Fremantle via overpasses and a tunnel.

Perth provides zero-fare train trips for SmartRider (travel fare card) holders around the city centre (the "Free Transit Zone"), as well as five high-frequency (every 8–15 minutes) Central Area Transit (CAT) bus routes (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple), which, alongside trips on regular Transperth buses in the city centre, are free to all users.

The Indian Pacific passenger rail service connects Perth with Adelaide and Sydney.

Trams were an integral part of the public transport system in the early 20th century until the advent of the private automobile.

However, long term lack of government investment led to the network being phased out by July 1958.

[10] There are now various tourist buses decorated as "trams", but running on rubber tyred wheels independently of rails, in both Perth and Fremantle.

[12] Perth is served by Perth Airport in the city's east for regional, domestic and international flights and Jandakot Airport in the city's southern suburbs for general aviation and charter flights.