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Public Transport News

Transport revolution on horizon for SA

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 25th June 2021 While the term sustainable transport system (STS) is often used generically and in a multifaceted sense, engineering and infrastructure consultancy company SMEC South Africa suggests that it should primarily refer to transport systems that have a low impact on the environment, are cost effective... →

Nearly 8 000 living on or around Cape Town's central train line - Metrorail

By: News24Wire 23rd June 2021 Nearly 8 000 people living on and around the railway lines on Cape Town’s central line have been fingered as the spanner in the works in the battle to get the defunct route back up and running. Metrorail Western Cape manager Richard Walker on Tuesday told the Western Cape legislature's Standing... →

Naspers invests R42m in WhereIsMyTransport

By: Irma Venter 7th June 2021 Naspers has announced a R42-million investment in Cape Town-based WhereIsMyTransport. The investment is part of a R201-million funding round led by Naspers Foundry, Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund and SBI Investment. →

Devin de Vries

Agency moves to add machine learning to road-safety arsenal

By: Schalk Burger 4th June 2021 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is exploring the use of machine learning to make more effective use of its data collected from field devices, such as vehicle-detection systems and cameras, and floating car data, which is a collection of anonymised road traffic data from... →

Johannesburg International Transport Interchange to launch at the end of June

By: Schalk Burger 3rd June 2021 The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) on June 3 said the 50 000 m² Johannesburg International Transport Interchange (JITI) had reached practical completion and would launch at the end of the month. The international long-distance and cross-border transport hub is located in the city's central business... →

City of Joburg tries to strike balance between revenue, relief in new budget

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th May 2021 In its R73.3-billion budget statement for the 2021/22 financial year, the City of Joburg (CoJ) has attempted to strike a balance between the needs of residents and the institution’s ability to provide services, considering continued Covid-19 impacts. The budget comprises of R65.1-billion in... →

Finance MMC Jolidee Matongo presents the City of Joburg budget for 2021/22 and the medium-term

Minibus taxis under closer scrutiny through W Cape's Blue Dot initiative

By: News24Wire 18th May 2021 The Western Cape transport department launched its Blue Dot taxi pilot project at the weekend which aims to address violence in the taxi industry and to offer commuters an improved service. The project is an incentive scheme to reward improved minibus taxi driving behaviour and service quality... →

Solar minibuses for Africa? Data seen as key to green transport switch

By: Reuters 14th May 2021 As emissions from African transport surge, governments need to find ways to encourage a shift to cleaner, healthier electric vehicles, especially among the minibus and motorcycle taxis that dominate transport in many cities, researchers said on Thursday. Investment in generating more... →

District Development Model seen as key to tackling delivery backlogs

By: Donna Slater 14th May 2021 Proponents of government's recently launched District Development Model (DDM) believe the joined-up model provides the framework required for South African municipalities to begin tackling their generally severe service-delivery problems. Conceptualised by the Department of Cooperative Governance... →

GMA seeks transaction adviser for feasibility study

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th May 2021 The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) has published a request for proposals (RfP) for a transaction adviser to develop a detailed feasibility study for the procurement of the Gautrain Rapid Link system. The current concession agreement will expire in 2026. →

Rail transport holds untapped potential that could be unlocked through third-party access – Gordhan

By: Donna Slater 31st March 2021 South Africa’s rail network, which currently represents about 20% of general freight market share and less than 10% of the passenger market share, presents an opportunity for role-players, both public and private, to reposition themselves and the industry in a way that contributes to its... →

Tribunal allows Intercape to participate in PRASA matter

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th March 2021 The Competition Tribunal has announced that bus transportation provider, Intercape Ferreira Mainliner, will be allowed, by agreement between Intercape and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to participate in an alleged abuse of dominance case against PRASA and its subsidiary... →

Construction starts on Rivonia road Rea Vaya BRT station

By: Donna Slater 30th March 2021 The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) says it will start implementation of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) station on Rivonia road, in Sandton, in the second quarter. The station’s construction is the final stretch of BRT infrastructure to be implemented in the area and, once completed,... →

Hydrogen supplier fuels public transport

By: Halima Frost 19th March 2021 Renewable-energy and hydrogen supply company Nel Hydrogen has installed a 2 MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser system at transport operator SunLine Transit’s premises in California, in the US, to fuel their fleet of fuel cell buses. →

ENERGY MAKER The Nel Hydrogen proton exchange membrane electrolyser allows for on site hydrogen generation from water

Luxury train makes Covid-19 testing mandatory, free for travelers

By: Simone Liedtke 11th March 2021 Rapid antigen testing for Covid-19 has been made mandatory and free for all guests and crew, prior to travelling on the luxury Blue Train, which is operated by State-owned Transnet. The rapid test complements a comprehensive set of precautionary measures administered for the safety and peace of... →

Cabinet approves new National Transport Policy

By: Irma Venter 26th February 2021 Cabinet announced on Friday that it had approved the revised White Paper on National Transport Policy. The policy replaces the 1996 National Transport Policy. →

Class action lawsuit: 'Exploited' SA Uber drivers must be recognised as employees - lawyers

By: News24Wire 23rd February 2021 Two law firms announced on Tuesday that they would move ahead with plans to file a class action on behalf of South African Uber drivers against the ride hailing tech giant's operations in South Africa as well as in London for drivers to be recognised as employees. If successful, the legal bid... →

Covid-19-induced ridership decline forces cancellation of Gautrain rolling stock tenders

By: Irma Venter 19th February 2021 The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) and the Bombela concessionaire have cancelled two tenders related to the procurement of around five pre-owned trains from the UK, says GMA CEO William Dachs. The tenders were first issued in 2019. →

Work on Selby Rea Vaya depot progressing well, says Joburg council

By: Irma Venter 12th February 2021 Work on the Selby Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) depot, which will be designated for Phase 1B and Phase 1C operations of the bus service, is progressing well, reports the City of Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), acting on behalf of the City of Johannesburg’s Department... →

Does Greyhound's closure spell the end of the road for the long-distance bus sector?

By: News24Wire 4th February 2021 It's hard to picture a festive season or payday weekend without Greyhound buses on the road, as blue-collar workers head home - but this is a reality many will soon face. KAP Industrial Holdings said it would stop its Greyhound and Citiliner services this month after 37 years in the industry,... →

Gautrain Management Agency cancels rolling stock tenders

By: Irma Venter 3rd February 2021 The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) and Bombela concessionaire have cancelled two tenders related to the procurement of around five pre-owned trains from the UK, says GMA CEO William Dachs. The tenders were first issued in 2019. →

E-hailing platform Bolt launches women-only service

By: Irma Venter 2nd February 2021 E-hailing platform Bolt has launched a women-only service that enables women passengers to request rides from women drivers only. Women passengers who request the service will only connect with women drivers on the Bolt platform, with their request for a ride not visible to male drivers. →

Gautrain rolling stock fleet completes 40-million kilometres in service

By: Irma Venter 18th January 2021 Bombardier Transportation says the Gautrain commuter fleet has successfully completed 40-million kilometres in service since operations began in 2010. →

Golden Arrow announces a fare increase

By: African News Agency 18th December 2020 The Golden Arrow Bus Service said on Friday it would increase passenger fares from December 28 to try and mitigate the effects of significantly higher operational cost throughout the year. In a statement Golden Arrow general manager Derrick Meyer said as per the company’s interim operating... →

Golden Arrow operator keen on running passenger rail service in Cape Town

By: Irma Venter 11th December 2020 Hosken Passenger Logistics & Rail (HPL&R), which, among others, operates the Golden Arrow bus service in Cape Town, is interested in expanding its operations to become a private participant in the country’s rail sector, confirms HPL&R spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer. HPL&R is listed on the JSE... →

Gibela confident it will deliver 600 new train sets to PRASA by 2029 deadline

By: Irma Venter 4th December 2020 Train maker Gibela is confident it can meet the terms of its R51-billion contract to deliver 600 newly built train sets to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) by 2029, despite the impact of Covid-19, says CEO Hector Danisa. Gibela, in 2013, signed a R51-billion contract to supply... →

Despite improvements, rail safety remains a concern – RSR

By: Donna Slater 27th November 2020 Despite improvements in some areas of national railway safety, statistics in the latest 'State of Railway Safety Report 2019/20', published on November 27, reveals “a grim picture of safety within the railway industry”, the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) reports. Despite an overall 24% reduction... →

Buses, trains shunned in favour of cars and taxis, Gauteng travel survey reveals

By: Irma Venter 27th November 2020 Low-capacity transport modes, such as minibus taxis and private cars, have become the backbone of the transport network in Gauteng province, as opposed to high-capacity modes, such as rail and buses. This is one of the main findings of the 2019/20 Gauteng Household Transport Survey (GHTS),... →

Gautrain to complete electric-bus pilot project by end-2021

By: Irma Venter 27th November 2020 The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) is busy with a feasibility study to investigate the possible future use of alternative drivetrains in the Gautrain bus fleet, says GMA COO Tshepo Kgobe. As part of this programme, the GMA expects to complete a pilot project, employing an electric bus, at the... →

Gibela confident of meeting 2029 deadline

By: Irma Venter 12th November 2020 Train-maker Gibela is confident it can meet the terms of its R51-billion contract to deliver 600 newly-built train sets to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) by 2029, despite the impact of Covid-19, says CEO Hector Danisa. Gibela in 2013 signed a R51-billion contract to supply... →

Hector Danisa

Golden Arrow operator keen on running passenger rail service in Cape Town

By: Irma Venter 5th November 2020 Hosken Passenger Logistics & Rail (HPL&R), which among others operates the Golden Arrow bus service in Cape Town, is interested in expanding its operations to become a private participant in the country’s rail sector, confirms HPL&R spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer. HPL&R is listed on the JSE, and... →

The 'jig is up' for rail saboteurs - Mbalula tells Parliament

By: News24Wire 4th November 2020 Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula wants the "might of the law unleashed" on those responsible for the destruction of South Africa's rail infrastructure. "The jig is up," he told the National Assembly on Tuesday. →

South Africa begins talks to regulate key minibus taxi industry

By: Bloomberg 3rd November 2020 South Africa’s government began talks to regulate the minibus taxi industry, a key economic sector that transports 40% of the population but whose reputation has been tarnished by lawlessness and a poor safety record. The private industry employs 300 000 drivers and generates an estimated... →

The taxi industry is 'the lifeblood of public transport', but we must fix problems – Ramaphosa

By: News24Wire 29th October 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the taxi industry as the "lifeblood of our public transport system", but has also emphasised that problems need to be tackled. Ramaphosa - who is self-isolating after possible exposure to Covid-19 at a fundraiser event over the weekend - addressed various... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

PRASA appoints acting CEO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 27th October 2020 The newly appointed board of control of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) held its first meeting on October 27 and appointed group executive for human capital management Thandeka Mabija acting CEO with immediate effect. She is expected to hold the acting CEO position for a maximum... →

Smart mobility plan launched to improve Gauteng transport by 2030

By: Donna Slater 27th October 2020 The Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo on October 27 launched the province’s Smart Mobility 2030 Plan, which is a roadmap aimed at addressing the province’s transport challenges. He pointed out that the two biggest challenges in the province are congestion... →

Gauteng’s Transport Authority to be formally established by the end of the year

By: Simone Liedtke 16th October 2020 The Transport Authority of Gauteng (TAG) will be formally established by the end of this year, interim CEO Jack van der Merwe confirmed on October 16. Speaking during an engagement session, he lamented that the Covid-19 pandemic had somewhat delayed the process but said that final board... →

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