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Public Transport News

Bombela Operating Company highlights operational, sustainability strides

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th November 2024 The Bombela Operating Company (BOC) has highlighted its works in ensuring an effective, efficient and safe Gautrain operation, while also pursuing sustainability at a broader level, as it aims to contribute toward creating an improved, integrated public transport industry in South Africa. BOC,... →

SA mulling new ways to unlock much-needed rail infrastructure investment

By: Schalk Burger 15th November 2024 Amid existing initiatives to achieve the correct rail access pricing to make it economically viable for private rail operators to invest, provide services and help State-owned transport agency Transnet to pay off its debt, the most important aspect of getting rail transport to operate at the... →

Traxtion CEO James Holley unpacks his view on private sector investment appetite in South Africa’s freight rail network.

'Clear vision' for logistics reform encouraging – Mavuso

By: Schalk Burger 11th November 2024 “The clarity of vision” provided by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on what success in terms of logistics reforms looks like and what needs to be done to make progress in dealing with the logistics crisis has boosted business confidence, says business organisation Business Leadership South... →

Bolt commits €100m over three years to improve safety

By: Schalk Burger 8th November 2024 Mobility and ride-sharing company Bolt will invest €100-million over three years to improve safety, develop new safety products and scale-up preventive measures. The company will also continue to raise awareness of its safety tools, such as the current 'Bolt Safety Team' campaign in South Africa... →

Ethicore CEO Abdul Waheed Patel, Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile, Bolt senior operations manager Simo Kalajdzic and AA Public Affairs and International Relations head Layton Beard at an event to announce the new investment

R7bn second phase MyCiTi rollout 50% complete, includes SA’s first-ever sky circle

By: Irma Venter 5th November 2024 The R7-billion rollout of the second phase of Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service, linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and other communities across the metro south east corridor, is 50% complete, says City of Cape Town (CoCT) Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Work on the 44-month project started in 2022. →

An artist's impression of the sky circle, once completed

Gautrain Management Agency scoops MIKE award

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th November 2024 The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) has scooped the 2024 Most Innovative Knowledge Enterprise (MIKE) South Africa Gold Award. The award recognises GMA’s efforts in harnessing its collective knowledge and expertise, leading to better decision-making, innovation and competitive advantage. →

Since the launch of the Gautrain rapid rail link project 14 years ago, the transit system has maintained high levels of operational efficiency, the GMA says

Gautrain operator scoops award at inaugural Rail Industry Awards

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 4th November 2024 The Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which currently operates and maintains the Gautrain, was awarded the Train Operator of the Year award at the inaugural Rail Industry Awards, hosted by the Railway Safety Regulator last week. The award recognises the quality operations and maintenance of the... →

Train Operator of the Year award

Number of operational incidents on South Africa's railways increases

By: Schalk Burger 1st November 2024 The Railway Safety Regulator's (RSR's) 'State of Safety Report 2023/2024' showed that there was a 12.82% increase in operational incidents from the prior year owing to new risks and trends, with 2 496 operational incidents reported during the year. In terms of injuries and fatalities, 85 lives... →

Rail masterplan to be finalised by October next year

By: Irma Venter 1st November 2024 The Department of Transport (DoT) aims to have the interim National Rail Masterplan (NRMP) ready by February next year, says DoT chief director Jan-David de Villiers. This will be followed by an eight-month consultation process, with the final NRMP to be delivered by October 2025. →

Ramaphosa wants 250Mt of freight moved by rail by 2029, as he notes progress in the sector

By: Sashnee Moodley 28th October 2024 The seventh administration aims to push rail as the “backbone of transport” in the country, with President Cyril Ramaphosa urging that rail lines transport at least 250-million tonnes of freight a year by 2029. With Transnet set to finalise its Network Statement by year-end, Ramaphosa noted that... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Rail masterplan to be finalised by October next year – DoT chief director

By: Irma Venter 10th October 2024 The Department of Transport (DoT) aims to have the interim National Rail Masterplan (NRMP) ready by February next year, says DoT chief director Jan-David de Villiers. This will be followed by an eight-month consultation process, with the final NRMP to be delivered by October 2025. →

Creecy calls for smart transport solutions, pioneer EV taxi launched

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd October 2024 Transport Minister Barbara Creecy emphasised the importance of implementing smart solutions as part of efforts to upgrade and revitalise the country’s transport sector, with commuter numbers severely impacted by the pandemic, and passenger and freight transport afflicted by vandalism, theft and... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Tasneem Bulbulia
The eKamva electric taxi

Logistics sector under pressure in June, July – Ctrack index

By: Irma Venter 19th September 2024 After moving upwards for three consecutive months, the newest Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (TFI) declined in June and July to reach a level of 119.8 in July – the lowest level since February. The weakness in the South African logistics sector has been broad-based, with five of the TFI’s six... →

PRASA terminates Matthews’ contract, sticks with Emeran as CEO

By: Irma Venter 30th August 2024 The board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has terminated Zolani Matthews’ employment with immediate effect. PRASA fired Matthews as CEO in 2021 for failing to disclose that he held dual South African-UK citizenship, which would have disqualified him from obtaining the... →

Saboa conference unpacks public transport condition, complexities

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th August 2024 Nonprofit industry member organisation the South African Bus Operators Association’s (Saboa) yearly conference, held last week under the theme “Sustainability of the Bus Industry”, entailed a detailed look at the country’s bus, public transport and associated industries, exploring challenges and... →

PRASA terminates Matthews’ contract; sticks with Emeran as CEO

By: Irma Venter 16th August 2024 The board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has terminated Zolani Matthews’ employment with immediate effect. PRASA fired Matthews as CEO in 2021 for his failure to disclose the fact that he held dual South African/UK citizenship, which would have disqualified him from... →

Hishaam Emeran

Cape Town wants GNU to give it more policing powers, right to run passenger rail and more

By: Irma Venter 9th August 2024 The City of Cape Town’s top requests to the Government of National Unity (GNU) are for municipal police to have the powers to investigate crime; the devolvement of passenger rail to the city; the release of national mega-properties for affordable housing; the increase of social housing subsidies... →

‘Unconscionable’ to return allocated money instead of fixing potholes – Creecy

By: Irma Venter 26th July 2024 Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says “immediate attention” will be given to the “critical issue” of the underspending of funding allocated to road maintenance and road construction by both Department of Transport (DoT) entities and provincial transport departments. “In a country where citizens... →

Give us more policing power and the right to run passenger rail, Cape Town asks GNU

By: Irma Venter 25th July 2024 The City of Cape Town’s top requests for the Government of National Unity (GNU) are for municipal police to have the powers to investigate crime; the devolvement of passenger rail to the city; the release of national mega-properties for affordable housing; the increase of social housing subsidies... →

Geordin Hill-Lewis

Numsa signs above-inflation wage agreement with Gautrain

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th July 2024 Labour union the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has welcomed the signing of an above-inflation wage agreement with the Bombela Operating Company, which operates the Gautrain. The agreement is for one year – from July 1 this year to June 30, 2025. →

Photo by Creamer Media
Numsa has signed a wage agreement with the BOC, which operates the Gautrain

ECape launch for WOW platform to bring taxi industry into the digital age

By: Irma Venter 24th July 2024 The newly launched Wealth On Wheels (WOW) platform is set to roll out technologies such as digital cash payments, fleet and vehicle management systems with GPS, and camera monitoring in minibus taxis. The initiative could assist minibus owners in enhancing their operations and maximising their... →

PRASA passenger numbers reach 40-million a year, increase by 167% – Emeran

By: Irma Venter 19th July 2024 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is “making steady and significant progress in getting passenger trains back on track”, with the urban rail service carrying about 40-million passengers in 2023/24 on 31 of the 40 PRASA rail corridors now operational, says CEO Hishaam Emeran.... →

‘Unconscionable’ to return money to Treasury instead of fixing potholes – Creecy

By: Irma Venter 15th July 2024 Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says “immediate attention” will be given to the “critical issue” of the underspending of funding allocated to road maintenance and road construction by both Department of Transport (DoT) entities and provincial transport departments. “In a country where citizens... →

Barbara Creecy

AA, Outa weigh in on new Transport Minister

By: Irma Venter 12th July 2024 Newly appointed Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is the eleventh minister in this portfolio since 1994, which is a cause for concern as continuity within government departments is vital, says the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa. The AA says the need for an improved transport model in... →

Lecturer proposes e-bikes as a solution to rapid urbanisation, decarbonisation in cities

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th July 2024 With traditional public mass transportation changing and more mobility alternatives arising, University of Johannesburg researcher and lecturer Mpho Gololo has suggested electric bicycles, or e-bikes, as a viable solution for certain use cases. In a paper presented at the Southern African... →

Student unpacks key considerations for minibus electrification countrywide

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th July 2024 Electrifying South Africa’s large minibus industry would greatly reduce carbon emission in the transport industry and contribute to more organised operations, University of Cape Town civil engineering student Anesu Jahura said this week. He presented his research paper during the Southern... →

Cape Town introduces reversible MyCiTi bus lane to reduce congestion

By: Irma Venter 5th July 2024 The City of Cape Town’s Transport Network Technology branch is set to activate a reversible MyCiTi bus lane along the R27 between Loxton road and Broad road in Milnerton. This bus lane, for exclusive use by MyCiTi vehicles, will permit inbound travel towards the Civic Centre in the morning, and... →

Steady hand needed as seventh Transport Minister appointed in 15 years – AA, Outa

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2024 Newly appointed Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is the eleventh minister in this portfolio since 1994, which is a cause for concern as continuity within government departments is vital, says the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa. The AA says the need for an improved transport model in... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Barbara Creecy

PRASA passenger numbers reach 40-million a year, up 167% – Emeran

By: Irma Venter 28th June 2024 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is “making steady and significant progress in getting passenger trains back on track”, with the urban rail service carrying about 40-million passengers in 2023/24 on 31 of the 40 PRASA rail corridors now operational, says CEO Hishaam Emeran.... →

Hishaam Emeran

Cape Town introduces reversible MyCiTi bus lane to reduce congestion

By: Irma Venter 14th June 2024 The City of Cape Town’s Transport Network Technology branch is set to activate a reversible MyCiTi bus lane along the R27 between Loxton road and Broad road in Milnerton. This bus lane, for exclusive use by MyCiTi vehicles, will permit inbound travel towards the Civic Centre in the morning, and... →

Image of the smart lane MyCiTi system in Cape Town

The smart lane system

Lack of public transportation integration undermining service delivery

By: Darren Parker 7th June 2024 A lack of proper integration with regard to urban public transportation systems has led to inefficiencies and duplications, with some routes and areas being overserved while others suffer from a complete lack of service, Aecom Africa transport operations leader and market sector leader transit... →

Public transportation evolution not happening fast enough, Unitrans says

By: Darren Parker 7th June 2024 Despite the Department of Transport’s (DoT’s) long-standing vision to achieve seamless integration of all modal public transport operations to ensure that it is more efficient, affordable, safe and reliable, Unitrans senior business development manager Bazil Govender says progress is not being... →

Steady increase in demand for Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service

By: Irma Venter 7th June 2024 The latest audited statistics on MyCiTi ridership in and around Cape Town show that there is increasing demand for the bus service. “It took some time for the service to settle in again after the Covid-19 pandemic, and for operations to return to normal,” says City of Cape Town Urban Mobility MMC... →

City approves Transport Master Plan for Randburg, Zandspruit

By: Sabrina Jardim 4th June 2024 The City of Johannesburg has approved a comprehensive Transport Master Plan (TMP) for the Randburg and Zandspruit areas. This strategic plan, developed by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the Transport Department and consultants led by Merchelles Collective, addresses transport... →

JustGO CarPooling connects people looking for a city-to-city ride

By: Irma Venter 31st May 2024 Online bus and flight-ticket sales specialist JustGO has launched a new CarPooling service. Using an online booking platform on which drivers can post their availability for inter-city travel, JustGO CarPooling connects drivers and passengers along city-to-city routes throughout South Africa. →

Steady increase in demand for MyCiTi bus service

By: Irma Venter 17th May 2024 The latest audited statistics on MyCiTi ridership in and around Cape Town show that there is an increasing demand for the bus service. “It took some time for the service to settle in again after the Covid-19 pandemic, and for operations to return to normal,” says City of Cape Town Urban Mobility... →

PRASA partially restores five more railway corridors

By: Irma Venter 26th April 2024 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it has restored another five Metrorail corridors across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. These rail services were interrupted by Covid-19, vandalism, crime and poor maintenance practices under previous management teams. →

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