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Public Transport News

Gibela celebrates completion of one-hundredth X’trapolis Mega train for PRASA

By: Sabrina Jardim 4th July 2022 Rail transport consortium Gibela on July 4 unveiled the one-hundredth X’trapolis Mega commuter train it is building for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). Gibela, whose shareholders are Alstom, Ubumbano Rail and New Rail Africa, in 2013 signed a R53-billion contract to supply... →

City of Cape Town pursues reinstatement of joint rail enforcement unit

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2022 The City of Cape Town says it is keen to help revive the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) rail enforcement unit (REU), which operated as a three-way government partnership between October 2018, and July 2020. The REU was launched by then Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande at a... →

Feasibility study on the City of Cape Town’s takeover of Metrorail gets under way

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2022 The City of Cape Town will, on July 1, start a feasibility study on the devolution of the city’s passenger rail system from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to the metro. PRASA currently operates all commuter passenger rail systems in the country, with the exception of the Gautrain. →

Gautrain ridership recovers to 42% of pre-Covid numbers

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2022 Ridership on the Gautrain has recovered to 23 358 average weekday rail trips, which is 42% of pre-Covid-19 numbers, says Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) communication and marketing senior executive manager Dr Barbara Jensen. Average weekday bus trips are currently at 8 681, which is 46% of... →

Satsa calls on Presidency to urgently intervene in licensing debacle

By: Darren Parker 22nd June 2022 The South African Tourism Services Association (Satsa) has called on the Presidency to urgently intervene and declare an immediate moratorium on new and renewal applications for accreditation, operating licences and permits within the tourism sector for the sake of saving jobs and preventing the... →

Numsa signs above inflation wage increase with Gautrain operator

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th June 2022 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it has signed an above-inflation wage increase of 7%, effective July 1, with the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), the agency which is running the Gautrain. In a statement, the union indicates that it has been engaging the employer... →

Sector can reap benefits from rail liberalisation

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th June 2022 Liberalising rail will allow for rail freight to be operated with the efficiency of the private sector at the core of designed operations, says rail infrastructure consulting company Taylorail CEO David Taylor. Taylor says this will allow for end-clients to benefit from lower cost-per-ton... →

An image depicting Taylorail's red rail wagon

TAYLORAIL WAGON Locomotives and wagons are capital intensive, with an estimated R600-million required to make use of one return slot out of the 16 that Transnet has issued advertisements for

Rail infrastructure challenges abound

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th June 2022 Train operators are working to restore the condition of South Africa’s rail network, including trains and stations, which is in “dire straits”, says Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) chief operations officer Tshepo Kgare. “The ageing infrastructure and limited capacity to move more goods and... →

An image depicting a smiling woman, Tshepo Kgare, wearing a blue blouse and black blazer

TSHEPO KGARE The RSR aims to develop a modern, flexible and efficient regulatory regime that ensures the continuing enhancement of safe railway operations

SGR to provide rail benefits

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th June 2022 With the National Rail Policy (NRP) emphasising the introduction of high speed standard gauge rail (SGR) technology on South Africa’s major rail networks, rail infrastructure consulting company Taylorail CEO David Taylor says this will make rail, as a mode of transport, a competitor for... →

A black and white image depicting a smiling man, David Taylor

DAVID TAYLOR Taylorail aims for the establishment of an open, efficient rail network by the public sector, which, alongside the private sector, enables the local economy to move forward

Policy opportunity for rail infrastructure

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th June 2022 With South Africa’s reliance on commodity exports, which can be handled only in large volumes by rail, law firm Norton Rose Fulbright Africa director and transport head Malcolm Hartwell says rail is a more efficient and environment-friendly way of transporting goods, making it crucial that rail... →

An image depicting railway tracks against the backdrop of a blue sky with white clouds and a bright shining sun

Photo by Adobe
RAIL POLICY The White Paper on National Rail Policy recognises problems with rail infrastructure and commits government to solving them

Policies require international funding – law firm

By: Sabrina Jardim 17th June 2022 Without international assistance, South Africa does not have the capacity to fund some of the large rail projects outlined by the National Rail Policy (NRP), released by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula this year as a draft White Paper and subsequently approved by Cabinet, says law firm Norton... →

An image depicting a man, Malcolm Hartwell, wearing a red tie, light blue shirt and black blazer

MALCOLM HARTWELL Hartwell says investment in infrastructure is needed to stimulate the economy, create employment and help address social and economic imbalances

Cape Town to start Metrorail take-over feasibility study on July 1

By: Irma Venter 13th June 2022 The City of Cape Town will, on July 1, start a feasibility study on the devolution of the city’s passenger rail system from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to the metro. PRASA currently operates all commuter passenger rail systems in the country, with the exception of the Gautrain. →

Image of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis

Geordin Hill-Lewis inspecting a Metrorail station

Sanral to introduce one ticket system for all public transport, tolling

By: Darren Parker 10th June 2022 State-owned South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is aiming to move away from traditional toll accounts to mobility accounts, Sanral northern region project manager Siveshni Pillay revealed this week. Speaking at the African Smart Cities Summit, in Midrand, on June 8, she said the... →

Route of Phase 1 of proposed Gautrain extension published

By: Irma Venter 10th June 2022 Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo has made public the preferred route for Phase 1 of the proposed expansion of the 80-km Gautrain system, in what is called the Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network (GRRIN) project. This route has been published in the Gauteng... →

National rail policy to support local industry, manufacturing

By: Schalk Burger 3rd June 2022 The National Rail Policy White Paper has a deliberate bias towards local manufacturing to ensure industrialisation and the local production of steel, railway lines, rolling stock and supplies, and the State and private sector operators should procure all supplies from South African manufacturers,... →

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula

Rail White Paper stresses private sector participation, move to standard gauge

By: Schalk Burger 3rd June 2022 The National Rail Policy White Paper will see the rail network opened to participation by the private sector, along with a progressive national move to standard gauge to increase the average speeds of trains, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said on... →

PRASA starts rehabilitation of three Gauteng corridors

By: Irma Venter 3rd June 2022 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it will terminate rail services on three Gauteng corridors for the next few months to allow for the rehabilitation and restoration of the electrical cables and traction substations that were vandalised or stolen during the Covid-19 Level 5... →

Mbalula says decision on e-tolls ‘imminent’, calls for scrap metal export ban

By: Irma Venter 3rd June 2022 Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has yet again promised that a decision on the future of e-tolls in Gauteng is imminent. Delivering his department’s Budget Vote speech late last month, he noted that the matter was on Cabinet’s radar, and that a pronouncement would be made once the final decision... →

Local bus sector under the pump

By: Tracy Hancock 3rd June 2022 The South African bus sector has faced challenges over the past two years, with commercial-vehicle sliding-window designer and manufacturer Widney Transport Components noting a drop in volumes, says sales manager Lucas Mehlape. “Local demand is mainly driven by government tenders, so the more the... →

REDUCED DEMAND About 60% to 70% of Widney Transport Components’ bus orders are linked to government tenders, with activity currently muted

Gauteng unveils transport authority board

By: Yvonne Silaule 1st June 2022 Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Road Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo says good corporate governance is critical for the success of the Gauteng Transport Authority (TAG). “The TAG is committed to good corporate governance and constantly strives to improve its governance framework to align it... →

KZN taxi owners empowered to become bus drivers

By: Yvonne Silaule 27th May 2022 KwaZulu-Natal taxi owners are now eligible to be bus owners following the signing, this week, of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and the Ithala Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) under the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and... →

Mamabola publishes route for Phase 1 of proposed Gautrain expansion

By: Irma Venter 25th May 2022 Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo has made public the preferred route for Phase 1 of the proposed expansion of the 80-km Gautrain system, in what is called the Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network (GRRIN) project. This route has been published in the Gauteng... →

Intercape urges govt intervention as attacks by rogue taxi operators increase

By: Irma Venter 20th May 2022 Days after long-distance coach company Intercape went public about a violent campaign waged against the industry by rogue taxi associations, three more of its buses came under attack in Gauteng. These attacks, which all happened in the last week of April, came after Intercape appealed to... →

Decision on e-tolls ‘imminent’; scrap metal exports must be banned – Mbalula

By: Irma Venter 18th May 2022 Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has yet again promised that a decision on the future of e-tolls in Gauteng is imminent. Delivering his department’s budget vote on Wednesday, he noted that the matter was on Cabinet’s radar, and that a pronouncement would be made once the final decision had been... →

Fikile Mbalula

PRASA starts rehabilitation work on three Gauteng corridors

By: Irma Venter 17th May 2022 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it will terminate rail services on three Gauteng corridors for the next few months to allow for the rehabilitation and restoration of the electrical cables and traction substations that were vandalised or stolen during the Covid-19 Level 5... →

PRASA’s KZN floods repair bill stands at almost R3bn

By: Irma Venter 13th May 2022 The direct cost to restore passenger rail services in KwaZulu-Natal following the recent floods stands at an estimated R2.6-billion to R2.9-billion, says the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). In addition, the loss of fare revenue, owing to the suspension of train services, is... →

Unions in passenger bus wage talks ink 6% wage deal

By: News24Wire 6th May 2022 The South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (Sarpbac) has announced that unions at the passenger bus wage talks have accepted a 6% wage offer and signed a deal with employers in the sector. This comes after months of tense negotiating between employer representatives and labour at the... →

Intercape urges govt intervention as attacks from taxi industry grow

By: Irma Venter 3rd May 2022 Days after long-distance coach company Intercape went public about a violent campaign waged against the industry by rogue taxi associations, three more of its buses have come under attack in Gauteng. These attacks, which all happened in the last week of April, came after Intercape appealed to... →

Police recover stolen copper in Devland, Johannesburg

By: Schalk Burger 29th April 2022 The South African Police Services (SAPS) raided the premises of a scrap metal dealer in Devland, near Johannesburg, and found a large cache of stolen copper cables. Working on a tip-off, the police officers searched a property and discovered copper cables belonging to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR),... →

WPIC encourages investment in platinum in Earth Day message

By: Schalk Burger 29th April 2022 Industry organisation the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) is encouraging investment in and use of platinum-based technologies that are helping to support greener operations, industries and economies. In a short video marking Earth Day, WPIC chief administrative officer David Badham says... →

Sandton Pause lounge to keep taxi drivers occupied during off-peak times

By: Donna Slater 28th April 2022 A “Pause Lounge” was launched at the JR005 taxi rank, in Sandton, on April 28, to provide taxi drivers on off-peak times after the morning rush with a place to rest, relax and pass time while they wait for the afternoon or evening peak times. Outfitted with a pool table, foosball and table... →

A “Pause Lounge” was launched at the JR005 taxi rank, in Sandton to provide taxi drivers on off-peak times with a place to rest, relax and pass time.

Former PRASA boss must be reinstated, arbitration hearing finds

By: News24Wire 19th April 2022 Axed Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) CEO Zolani Matthews is free to return to his office following an arbitration ruling in his favour. Matthews was placed on precautionary suspension in November last year over a security clearance issue which was related to his dual citizenship.... →

Alstom appoints new CEO for Bombela Maintenance Company

By: Irma Venter 6th April 2022 Alstom Southern Africa has appointed Shumani Madanda as the new CEO of the Bombela Maintenance Company (BMC). In his new role, Madanda will be responsible for strategy and operations, while he will also lead the BMC team as they explore growth opportunities for the company. →

Shumani Madanda

Moove raises $105m to take its African financing model global

By: Irma Venter 18th March 2022 Mobility fintech group Moove has raised $105-million in a Series A2 funding round, consisting of equity and debt. This newest round of funding was led by existing investors, Speedinvest, Left Lane Capital and thelatest.ventures, with participation from new investors, including AfricInvest, MUFG... →

Moove co-CEOs Jide Odunsi and Ladi Delano

Drones successful in deterring railway cable theft syndicates

By: Donna Slater 15th March 2022 Johannesburg-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator and developer UAV & Drone Solutions (UDS) proposes that government departments and State-owned entities (SOEs) use, to a far greater extent, the services it provides to curb critical infrastructure theft and vandalism. Cable theft for... →

UAV & Drone Solutions provides eyes in the sky, day or night, to deter infrastructure criminals and identify areas of concern

Metrorail to reinstate Cape Town to Bellville rail service

By: Schalk Burger 14th March 2022 Commuter rail agency the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa's Metrorail Western Cape will restore services between Cape Town and Bellville via Goodwood and will introduce a passenger service by Wednesday March 16, which will come with a new operating timetable. All the stations will be... →

Rea Vaya Phase 1C agreements signed

By: Schalk Burger 14th March 2022 City of Johannesburg (CoJ) mayoral committee member for transport Funzi Ngobeni has signed three key agreements which pave the way for the operation of Rea Vaya Phase 1C route that will connect Phase 1A and 1B from the Johannesburg central business district to Alexandra, Greenstone and Sandton.... →

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