The new depot is the fourth Transperth site to receive electric bus charging infrastructure, following Elizabeth Quay Bus Station and the Malaga and Karrinyup depots. As a result, twenty electric buses are now in operation from Bayswater as part of the Transperth public transport network’s wider transition away from diesel. Other upgrades to the site include a new administration building, a workshop, a wash bay, a depot yard, bus and staff parking areas, and associated site infrastructure.
The opening comes just as Transperth has reached the milestone of deploying more than 200 locally manufactured electric buses on routes around Perth. The vehicles are built at Volgren’s manufacturing facility in Malaga, Western Australia; the final diesel bus was manufactured there over a year ago, with every new bus being electric since. Recently, the fleet also reached another milestone by deploying Australia’s first locally manufactured electric articulated bus for passenger services on 2 November. A second articulated electric bus is also expected to enter operation from the Karrinyup depot over the coming weeks.
The Bayswater project forms part of an AU$250 million (~€143 m) joint initiative by both the national and Western Australian governments to phase out diesel buses and install charging infrastructure across Perth. So far, the programme has delivered an initial 130 electric buses, alongside associated depot upgrades and charging equipment.
Work is also underway at the Jandakot depot, where electrical works have been completed and charger installation is progressing. The site is due to receive 41 dual chargers to provide capacity for 82 electric buses – with all equipment expected to be operational by mid-2027. Additional upgrades are also being planned at the Welshpool, Joondalup and Claisebrook depots.
Catherine King, Australia’s minister for Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said: “The Australian and Cook Labor Governments are working together to transition the Transperth bus network to zero-emission operations. Australia’s transport sector is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and by delivering electric bus charging infrastructure we are reducing tailpipe and noise pollution from bus operations. With the Bayswater depot now in operation, we are delivering sustainable public transport options for Perth.”
