Karrinyup Depot To Be Transformed For Electric Buses
The State Government’s commitment to phase out diesel buses has been turbo-charged, with a major contract awarded to deliver new infrastructure at the Karrinyup Bus Depot.
The $12.3 million contract to retrofit Karrinyup depot will include the installation of EV charging equipment, substation upgrades, CCTV upgrades and other works to support a major fleet of electric buses.
Once the works are completed, the depot will be able to support 110 electric buses. The first electric bus is expected to be delivered to the depot in early 2026, which will also be the first to operate outside of the CBD.
The Karrinyup Bus Depot will be the second major Transperth facility to be upgraded with the charging infrastructure, following the installation of bus chargers at the Elizabeth Quay Bus Station last year. The upgrade works will be completed by the end of this year.
The redevelopment is part of a $250 million electric bus program, which will initially see 130 new EV buses replace their existing diesel counterparts. The program has been jointly funded between the State and Federal governments.
Karrinyup is one of a number of depots being prepared for the EV boost, which also includes upgrades to Malaga depot (capacity for 90 e-buses) and building a new depot at Bayswater (capacity for 130 e-buses).
Plans for EV upgrades to more depots are being progressed as part of the State Government’s phase out of diesel buses.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We made a commitment to phase out the production of diesel buses and this contract award is a major step in making that a reality.
“With every new electric bus that is entered into service we need to ensure that our depots have the infrastructure in place to keep the fleet running efficiently and effectively.
“It is imperative our bus depots incorporate EV infrastructure so that the transition from a diesel-heavy fleet to one that includes cleaner, greener buses happens as smoothly as possible.”
As stated by Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey:
“I am thrilled that our community will be among the first outside the CBD to get access to electric buses.
“We made a commitment to phasing out diesel buses from our network, and the delivery of new electric charging infrastructure at our depots is critical to achieving that.”
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook Labor Government/Karrinyup-depot-to-be-transformed-for-electric-buses-20250521