Perth Central Area Transit


The Perth Central Area Transit System, or simply CAT, is four bus routes in the centre of Perth, two bus routes in Fremantle, and three bus routes in Joondalup. Also included is the Rockingham City Centre Transit System and the Midland Gate Shuttle. Unlike all other Transperth services, most CAT routes are zero-fare.

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. The Yellow CAT was commenced in 2002 and the Green CAT route began on 30 June 2013. These CAT services are operated by Transdev WA.

The Blue CAT runs between Perth and Northbridge areas, including Barrack Street Jetty and Elizabeth Quay Bus Station. Blue CAT runs as bus route number 1. Blue CAT has 14 stops including:
  1. Elizabeth Quay Bus Station B5
  2. Barrack Square
  3. Hay Street Mall East
  4. Beaufort Street Bridge
  5. Museum
  6. Art Centre
  7. TAFE
  8. Aberdeen Street
  9. Francis Street
  10. Russell Square
  11. Northbridge
  12. James Street
  13. Horseshoe Bridge
  14. Perth Underground

The Red CAT runs between West Perth and East Perth areas, including Perth Central areas. Red CAT runs as bus route number 2. Red CAT has 29 stops including:
  1. WACA Ground
  2. Don Aitken Centre
  3. Plain Street
  4. Wellington Square
  5. Carlton
  6. Perth Mint
  7. Victoria Avenue
  8. Town Hall East
  9. Hay Street Mall East
  10. Forrest Place
  11. Perth Underground
  12. Central Park
  13. His Majesty's
  14. QV.1
  15. Parliament
  16. Emerald Terrace
  17. West Perth
  18. Outram Street
  19. Ord Street
  20. Havelock Street
  21. Gordon Street
  22. Milligan Street
  23. Raine Square
  24. Perth station
  25. Murray Street
  26. Royal Perth Hospital
  27. Mercedes College
  28. Bennett Street
  29. Queens Gardens
There is also a shorter version of the Red CAT route, run in peak times, that runs from Perth station to West Perth. This route is numbered 4 and was introduced due to high demand for the Red CAT from Perth station into West Perth. Another is the West Perth Loop for the Red CAT route, serving stops 11 to 23 only.

The Yellow CAT runs between East Perth, Perth and West Perth areas along Wellington Street, including Roe Street bus station, Perth railway station and Claisebrook railway station. It was introduced on 15 December 2002. Yellow CAT runs as bus route number 3. Yellow CAT has 36 stops including:
  1. Claisebrook station
  2. Royal Street Car Park
  3. East Perth TAFE
  4. Royal Square
  5. Victoria Gardens
  6. Nile Street
  7. Don Aitken Centre
  8. Plain Street
  9. Wellington Square
  10. Hill Street
  11. Lord Street
  12. Royal Perth Hospital South
  13. Western Power
  14. Forrest Place
  15. Raine Square
  16. Arena
  17. Sutherland Street
  18. Harold Boas Gardens South
  19. Colin Street
  20. Thomas Street
  21. Harold Boas Gardens North
  22. Sutherland Street
  23. Arena
  24. Yagan Square
  25. Perth station
  26. Pier Street
  27. Royal Perth Hospital North
  28. Wellington Fair
  29. Wellington Square North
  30. Police Traffic Branch
  31. Main Roads
  32. East Perth Cemeteries
  33. Haig Park Circle
  34. Regal Place
  35. Education Department
  36. Health Department

The Green CAT commenced running between Leederville station and Elizabeth Quay Bus Station via City West station, through West Perth on 1 July 2013. It is designed to ease congestion on the existing Red CAT service and in the CBD train stations. Green CAT runs as bus route number 5. Green CAT does not run on weekends or public holidays. Green CAT has 20 stops including:
  1. Elizabeth Quay Bus Station B4
  2. Mill Street
  3. Milligan Street
  4. Harvest Terrace
  5. Havelock Street
  6. Ord Street
  7. Hay Street
  8. Harold Boas Gardens North
  9. Sutherland Street
  10. City West station
  11. Leederville station
  12. City West station
  13. Sutherland Street
  14. Harold Boas Gardens South
  15. Hay Street
  16. Kings Park Road
  17. Havelock Street
  18. Harvest Terrace
  19. Milligan Street
  20. Cloisters

    Fremantle CAT

On 26 August 2000, a CAT service commenced in Fremantle. Today there are two Fremantle CAT routes: the Fremantle Red CAT and Fremantle Blue CAT. They go to tourist destinations in Fremantle. These CAT service are operated by Transdev WA. Fremantle CAT is served by two routes, and has 30 stops in total including:

The Joondalup CAT started operation on 9 January 2006, and was operated by Path Transit, but had been operated by Transdev WA from 1 May 2011 to 17 January 2020, subsequently by Swan Transit since 20 January 2020. It runs as bus routes 10 and 11 around the Joondalup CBD, operating Monday to Friday; and bus route 13 running a clockwise, after hours clockwise circle around Edith Cowan University's Joondalup Campus, operating Monday to Thursday on ECU university days only. The stops are as follows:

Rockingham City Centre Transit System

The Rockingham City Centre Shuttle started operation on 23 December 2007, and is operated by Transdev WA. It is the only CAT service that charges a fare. It runs as bus route 555. It travels around Rockingham City, and stops at:

Midland Gate Shuttle

The Midland Gate Shuttle started operation on 5 July 2009, and is operated by Swan Transit. 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, and stops at:
; Helena Street
; Great Eastern Highway
; Lloyd Street
; The Crescent
; Keane Street
; The Avenue
; Old Great Northern Highway
; Great Eastern Highway
; Helena Street
– interchange with Blue CAT
– interchange with Red CAT
– interchange with Yellow CAT
– interchange with Green CAT
– interchange with train
– interchange with bus
– interchange with CircleRoute
– interchange with ferry

Bus fleets

The CAT services commenced in 1996 with 16 diesel-hydraulic engine powered, Scania-Danish Automobile Building Silkeborg MidCity Series II 0860S low-floor, wheelchair accessible city buses.. In 2001, due to high demand, five Volgren CR226L bodied Mercedes-Benz O 405 NHs were implemented in the CAT fleet along with the Scania-Danish Automobile Building Silkeborg MidCity Series II 0860S. However, the Silkeborg MidCity Series II 0860S and the Mercedes-Benz O405NHs were replaced in August 2005 and July 2006 respectively by 25 Volgren CR228L bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs that are fuelled by compressed natural gas and 16 Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLEs. In addition to the designated fleet, other Transperth liveried buses can sometimes be used. On January 2013, the Perth CAT introduced the Volvo B5RLEH as a demonstrator model. In 2016, a new fleet of 32 Volgren bodied Volvo B8RLEs replaced the Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs.
The Fremantle CAT fleet consists of three Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs introduced in September 2017, replacing the Mercedes-Benz O405NHs that had been used since 2000, the Joondalup CAT fleet consists of two Volvo B8RLEs and the Rockingham CAT fleet consists of three Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs.
The Midland Shuttle is currently operated by a sole Volvo B7RLE.