For years, Curtin University’s complimentary bus service has played an important role in helping students, staff and the wider community travel between Bentley Campus, Technology Park and surrounding suburbs including Waterford, Bentley, Victoria Park and South Perth. Powered by Perth's leading bus and charter company, Horizons West, the service is now even better!
BUT IN 2026, CURTIN TOOK A BOLD STEP FORWARD.
Moving away from a traditional fixed-route, fixed-timetable model, the service was reimagined as a fully dynamic, demand-responsive transport network. The result? curtinlink, a smarter, more flexible service delivering unprecedented levels of convenience—and a significant increase in patronage.
A SERVICE BUILT AROUND CUSTOMER NEEDS
Historically, the service operated along five designated routes, allowing customers to hail buses at points along the service corridors. While the service was popular, customer expectations had evolved. Today's commuters increasingly expect transport to fit around their schedules rather than the other way around.
Recognising this shift, Curtin University and Horizons West introduced curtinlink, a fully on-demand model in 2026, designed to bring public transport closer to where people live and study.
Instead of walking to traditional bus stops or adjusting to fixed timetables, students and staff can now request rides using a network of 983 virtual stops strategically located throughout the service catchment area. On average, customers are now less than 150 metres from their nearest pickup point—effectively allowing many users to board "from the end of their street."
The transformation has made getting to campus simpler, faster and more convenient than ever before.
THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Between 9 February and 30 June 2026, the on-demand network completed 38,310 customer journeys, while maintaining an impressive 90% average met-demand rate.
During peak teaching periods, the service is now averaging 500 customer journeys per day—representing a remarkable 250% increase in ridership compared to the previous fixed-route operation.
By removing barriers such as long walks to bus stops, rigid schedules and inconvenient route structures, curtinlink has successfully created a transport solution that better reflects how students and staff move around today.
CONVENIENCE MEETS TECHNOLOGY
A key contributor to the service's success has been curtinlink’s user-friendly technology.
Customers can book and track rides through the curtinlink app, available on both Google Play and Apple's App Store. The app provides real-time information, helping users plan their journeys with confidence and minimise waiting times.
Combined with the flexibility of on-demand transport, live tracking has created a seamless travel experience that rivals many commercial mobility services.
MORE THAN JUST A BUS SERVICE
While innovation has been a major focus, Horizons West continues to deliver on the fundamentals that have made it a valued campus service for years.
The service remains:
• Free to use for students and staff
• Wheelchair accessible, with accessible buses, handrails and grab-rails
• Available Monday to Friday all year round – except for the end of year break
• Operating from 7:00am to 7.00pm
• Supported by experienced and professional Horizons West drivers
Importantly, the service also helps reduce parking pressure on campus and encourages more sustainable transport choices among the Curtin community.
WHAT CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING
The success of the transition is perhaps best reflected in customer feedback.
"The drivers are all incredibly lovely and helpful. A great free option to get to campus!"
"Great service! Makes getting into campus a lot easier."
"Super convenient."
"App is easy to use, and the service is really convenient. Love that it's now on demand and reaches my street. Really glad that the uni offers a free bus service, at least I don't have to stress trying to find parking and pay for it."
These comments reinforce the value of creating transport services that prioritise customer experience and accessibility.
SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR CAMPUS MOBILITY
The evolution of the service demonstrates how innovative transport solutions can deliver meaningful improvements for communities. By replacing a traditional fixed-route service with a dynamic, demand-responsive model, Curtin University and Horizons West have not only improved accessibility but also dramatically increased ridership.
With more than 38,000 rides delivered in its first semester of operation, a 90% met-demand rate and ridership growth of 250%, the new curtinlink model is proving that flexibility, technology and customer-centric design can transform the way people move.
As universities and communities continue to explore smarter transport solutions, the curtinlink service provides a compelling example of what is possible when public transport evolves to meet the needs of its users.
