Gautrain on the right track

The full Gautrain service has been operational for just under a year.

The MEC on Thursday, 9 May 2013, said the total monthly number of passengers on the Gautrain system exceeded one million passengers between February and March this year.

He said this was achieved with an operational efficiency that met and exceeded targets of availability and punctuality set at 98 percent and 97 percent respectively on all trips made.

Vadi, who emphasised the need for rail to become the backbone of transport in the province, said the figures demonstrated an increase in customer confidence in the Gautrain and in public transport in general.

With regard to safety and security, the MEC said last year, incidents of cable theft did occur, but on a much smaller scale than in the previous year, largely as a result of improved security systems implemented by the concessionaire in close cooperation with the South African Police Service.

The average daily Gautrain bus service trips have doubled from 9,000 per day in April 2012 to 18,000 a day in March of 2013.

The purpose of the Gautrain bus service is to support the train ridership and to improve the total trip quality and experience of the commuters.

As of March 2013, a total of 26 bus routes were in operation, with the addition of the UNISA/Groenkloof and Emperors Palace routes.

With regard to addressing the shortage of parking, Vadi said additional 103 parking bays were added at Rhodesfield station, and the planning and design for the construction of another 156 parking bays at the station was at an advanced stage.

He said discussions were also underway with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to look into long-term parking solutions for both Gautrain and PRASA.

The MEC also announced that negotiations were at advanced stage to develop a new station at the Heartlands Development at Modderfontein.

Gautrain chief executive officer, Jack van der Merwe, said the average fare increase as from 1 June 2013 will be 6 percent.

"There will be a 15 percent reduction in fares during off-peak hours between 9am and 3pm. The fare structure aims to promote use of the system; be price attractive to the respective target markets and to sustain a shift to Gautrain from private vehicle users.

"Fares must be viewed in conjunction with the total Gautrain service offering, which is of a high quality in terms of reliability, punctuality and safety," he said.

He said the integration of the Gautrain system with other public transport services remains one of their primary objectives.

"We are involved in the consultation forums and planning of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system being constructed by the City of Tshwane.

"A BRT station has already been completed opposite Hatfield Station and will form part of the proposed route to Pretoria CBD.

"The Linbro Park shuttle service operated by a taxi-owned company from Marlboro Station continues to provide an excellent quality of service to commuters," he said.

According to Van der Merwe, there are plans to extend the shuttle service to service other routes in the vicinity of Marlboro.

The proposed routes include two additional routes to Woodmead and Greenstone.