A lot of locals lament Perth's public transport system - in particular, all the buses that don't come on time - but the train system is something I'm actually pretty proud of. If you're a tourist visiting Perth, then you'll be able to reach most of the important sightseeing spots by train, so it's worth knowing a little about how it works.

Perth's Five Train Lines

After a new line opened in 2008, there are now five train lines in Perth, all of which pass through the centre of the city. The Joondalup line heads north into suburbia; the Armadale and Midland lines head east, and the Fremantle and Mandurah lines both head south - the Fremantle line wanders towards the coast past the beach suburbs to stop in the port of Fremantle, while the Mandurah line goes down the freeway and ends up at the next urban centre, Mandurah. Tourists will probably use the Fremantle line more than any other.

How to Use a Perth Train

You'll see most local people using SmartRider cards to pay their train fare, but for most visitors, it's not worthwhile to purchase one. You should buy your ticket from the vending machine on the station platform before you board the train. Once you have your ticket, you don't need to do anything special with it, apart from not losing it - at many stations you need to show it to a guard to be able to exit the station.

It's definitely worth buying a ticket because inspectors regularly patrol the trains and give out fines. I've been checked at least once a month, and I don't use the train all that much. The cost depends on how many zones you travel; a two-zone journey costs A$3.50, for example. The vending machines calculate the fare automatically for you after you press the button matching your destination. If you're doing a bit of travelling it's often worth buying an all-day ticket (DayRider) for A$8.40 - but you can only use this from after 9.00am. I figure that's a good excuse to have a leisurely breakfast and skip the crowds, anyway. Check the Transperth website for timetable and station information.

Perth train pic from penguincakes via Creative Commons