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Public Transport News

Alstom Southern Africa appoints new MD

By: Irma Venter 7th August 2020 Rail transport company Alstom has appointed Bernard Peille the new MD of Alstom Southern Africa, effective July 15. Peille joined Alstom in 1989. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the railway industry, with particular expertise in design, industrial site development, management of rolling... →

Covid-19 compliance exacting huge costs on contracted bus sector

By: Irma Venter 31st July 2020 It costs about R1.3-million a day, or R34-million a month, for the contracted public transport bus sector to adhere to the hygiene and safety protocols implemented under the Covid-19 pandemic, says South African Bus Operators Association (Saboa) executive manager Bazil Govender. The sector... →

PRASA, railway equipment company managers arrested for theft

By: Irma Venter 27th July 2020 The Organised Crime Unit of the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) and the Protection Services of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) on the weekend arrested two suspects in possession of stolen PRASA assets, worth almost R2-million. One of the suspects is a PRASA branch manager at... →

Metrorail recovers R1.3m in stolen feeder wire

By: Irma Venter 24th July 2020 Metrorail’s Gauteng Protection Services this week recovered stolen feeder wire worth an estimated R1.3-million. Metrorail’s Rapid Response Unit intercepted a truck carrying four pallets of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa feeder wires. →

Taxi assistance approved in principle, says TAG’s Van der Merwe

By: Irma Venter 24th July 2020 Government has taken the policy decision to financially assist minibus taxis, but the mechanism to do this has not yet been determined, says Transport Authority of Gauteng (TAG) head Jack van der Merwe. “The short answer is that government has made a decision that taxis are a very important... →

UP, CSIR sign collaboration agreement on smart transport, cities

By: Irma Venter 23rd July 2020 The University of Pretoria (UP) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), have signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate in the areas of smart transport, cities and environments. “The cooperation means that UP... →

Alstom Southern Africa appoints new MD

By: Irma Venter 22nd July 2020 Rail transport company Alstom has appointed Bernard Peille as the new MD of Alstom Southern Africa, effective July 15. Bernard joined Alstom in 1989. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the railway industry, with particular expertise in design, industrial site development, management of... →

Bernard Peille

Commuter rail sector urged to prepare for the future

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th July 2020 South Africa's commuter rail industry must, while dealing with the immediate challenges of navigating through the Covid-19 pandemic, also ensure that it positions itself as a safer, more advanced and functional mode of public transport for the future, Gautrain Management Agency CEO William Dachs... →

Santaco hits back at Cosatu strike threats over taxi load capacity

By: News24Wire 20th July 2020 The South African National Taxi Council has said labour federation the Congress of South African Trade Union's threat to strike over the full loading capacity regulation for some taxis is unfortunate and disingenuous. "Santaco's battle with government has been nothing except for the survival of... →

PRASA to recruit 3 100 additional security guards

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th July 2020 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has started a recruitment process to employee 3 100 security guards to protect its rail infrastructure and other assets. The recruitment drive will include static and train guards, operations monitoring controllers and armed response guards. →

Lockdown: The rejected R1.135bn taxi relief fund is 'safe' in govt coffers, says Mbalula

By: News24Wire 17th July 2020 The R1.135-billion government relief fund rejected by the taxi industry is "safe" in government coffers. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula told the nation that the rejected funds were with his department and that there were no plans to send them back to National Treasury. →

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula

Contracted bus sector struggles with high cost of Covid-19 compliance

By: Irma Venter 13th July 2020 It costs around R1.3-million a day, or R34-million a month, for the contracted public transport bus sector to adhere to the hygiene and safety protocols implemented under the Covid-19 pandemic, says South African Bus Operators Association (Saboa) executive manager Bazil Govender. The sector... →

PRASA appoints acting chief procurement officer

By: Donna Slater 7th July 2020 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has appointed Willie Mathebula acting group chief procurement officer, with effect from July 7. He assumes the position which has been left vacant by the departure of previous incumbent Keabetswe Mpane. →

Mobility as a service using cellphones proposed for safe transport

By: Schalk Burger 3rd July 2020 Multinational engineering consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV has proposed using technology to monitor hotspots and ensure safe commuting, as well as reduce the need to increase the number of public transport vehicles to enable safe transport. Technology can help to manage supply and demand more... →

Alstom launches new Mastria mobility orchestration solution

By: Schalk Burger 3rd July 2020 Transport and rail multinational Alstom has launched a new version of multimodal supervision and mobility orchestration solution Mastria, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide operators and transport authorities with enhanced passenger flow management tools. The solution allows... →

Taxi assistance approved in principle, says TAG’s Van der Merwe

By: Irma Venter 29th June 2020 Government has taken the policy decision to financially assist minibus taxis, but the mechanism to do this has not yet been determined, says Transport Authority of Gauteng (TAG) head Jack van der Merwe. “The short answer is that government has made a decision that taxis are a very important role... →

Mpondo institutes investigation into leak of confidential PRASA documents

By: Simone Liedtke 22nd June 2020 Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo has ordered an investigation into the illegal leaking of confidential company documents related to a security tender. Mpondo has directed the acting head of PRASA Security, Brigadier General (Ret) Tebogo Rakau, to... →

More than R1bn allocated for taxi industry relief – Mbalula

By: News24Wire 19th June 2020 More than a billion rand in relief has been allocated to the taxi industry to aid thousands of taxis and their operators during the Covid-19 pandemic, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has said. "Government has offered the taxi industry a relief package of R1.135 billion. Reaching agreement... →

Intelligent transport system community severely impacted on by Covid-19

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the local intelligent transport system (ITS) community, says Intelligent Transport Society South Africa (ITSSA) CEO Dr Paul Vorster. The ITTSA conducted a survey among its members on the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. →

DoT unveils plans for new auto terminal at Durban, branch line concessioning

By: Irma Venter 12th June 2020 The Department of Transport (DoT) intends to take over the functioning of struggling integrated public transport networks (IPTNs) in five cities, with six cities currently operating these systems, says Department of Transport director-general Alec Moemi. IPTNs should, ideally, incorporate bus... →

Expected decline in safety related rail incidents

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2020 The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) expects that an analysis of railway safety incidents in April and May will reveal a declining trend in some categories of operational occurrence since some railway operations were suspended during levels 4 and 5 of the Covid-19 national lockdown. As legislated,... →

WALKING THE LINE
Although there have been less operational occurrences throughout the lockdown, safe railway behaviour promotion has been augmented for rail employees and the general public

Photo by Creamer Media
WALKING THE LINE Although there have been less operational occurrences throughout the lockdown, safe railway behaviour promotion has been augmented for rail employees and the general public

Rail needs innovative risk-sharing structures

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2020 African railway owners and operators should consider linking freight and passenger rail services as a way of diversifying the risks and rewards that have become evident in these systems on the back of the Covid-19 crisis, says Development Bank of Southern Africa transport, logistics and bulk... →

SHOULDERING THE LOAD
While passenger rail suffered losses, freight rail enjoyed increased demand throughout the Covid-19 lockdown

Photo by Creamer Media
SHOULDERING THE LOAD While passenger rail suffered losses, freight rail enjoyed increased demand throughout the Covid-19 lockdown

Gautrain takes a knock to protect customer base

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2020 Gautrain rapid-rail network operator Bombela Concession Company has maintained or, in some cases, increased Gautrain operational capacity despite low passenger numbers. “While maintaining or even increasing capacity at a time when demand has reduced goes against commercial logic, it makes perfect... →

STAYING ON TRACK The Gautrain has continued to operate at full capacity despite experiencing a significant reduction in paying customers during lockdown

PRASA dismisses four senior officials over procurement irregularities

By: Donna Slater 8th June 2020 Following allegations of impropriety in the awarding of security-related tenders, and a disciplinary inquiry, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has dismissed four senior officials in its protection services department, who have been found guilty of alleged procurement... →

PRASA raids illicit scrap metal trader, makes arrests

By: Donna Slater 3rd June 2020 Having been victim to an alarming increase in cases of infrastructure vandalism to its overhead electrical lines, electrical substations and station buildings, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) security team has seized about R10-million worth of stolen cables and other rail... →

Gautrain extends operating hours

By: Donna Slater 1st June 2020 The Gautrain will, from June 1, expand its operating hours for the train service, in line with the easing of travel restrictions. Trains will operate daily, with the first trains departing from end stations at 05:30 and the last trains departing from these stations at 20:30. →

PRASA not ready to resume commuter operations under Covid-19 level 3, says Mbalula

By: African News Agency 1st June 2020 While the Gautrain will resume its OR Tambo International Airport service when the coronavirus (Covid-19) level 3 regulations come into effect on June 1, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is not yet ready to resume Metrorail commuter services, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula... →

PRASA administrator announces new permanent executive appointments

By: Simone Liedtke 29th May 2020 Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo on May 29 announced new permanent executive appointments to the State-owned rail entity. The appointments are the culmination of a rigorous process, overseen by external recruitment agencies, as well as experts in... →

Five things public transport can do to help flatten postlockdown infection curve

By: Irma Venter 29th May 2020 Public transport has emerged as a central concern in the fight against the transmission of Covid-19, says University of Pretoria Centre for Transport Development’s Christo Venter. Vehicles and transport hubs are ideal places for infections to spread, leading to the shutdown of transport services... →

Almost two-thirds of ITS community severely impacted by Covid-19

By: Irma Venter 22nd May 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the local intelligent transport system (ITS) community, says Intelligent Transport Society South Africa (ITSSA) CEO Dr Paul Vorster. ITTSA conducted a survey among its members on the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. →

PRASA appoints new CFO

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th May 2020 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has appointed Krishna Govender CFO, effective immediately. Govender is a chartered accountant and has almost 25 years’ experience in accounting and financial management, which he gained from various entities in both the public and private... →

PRASA CFO Krishna Govender

Gautrain delays yearly fare increase owing to Covid-19

By: Simone Liedtke 13th May 2020 The Gautrain will not be increasing its fares in June this year, as would normally have been the case. Instead, the Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company will be delaying the fare increase to later in the year once more accurate information is available as to when the lockdown... →

Bridge Taxi Finance supports drivers, owners with financing relief

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th May 2020 Minibus taxi financier Bridge Taxi Finance has announced that it will provide R175-million in financial relief to the 2 500 taxi operators that it finances. With the support of its holding company Mokoro Holdings and shareholders, Bridge Taxi Finance says it will settle 50% of its clients’... →

DoT unveils plans for new auto terminal at Durban, branch line concessioning

By: Irma Venter 12th May 2020 The Department of Transport (DoT) intends to take over the functioning of struggling integrated public transport networks (IPTNs) in five cities, with six cities currently operating these systems, says Department of Transport director-general Alec Moemi. IPTNs should, ideally, incorporate bus... →

Five things public transport can do to help flatten the curve

By: Irma Venter 8th May 2020 Public transport has emerged as a central concern in the fight against the transmission of Covid-19, says University of Pretoria Centre for Transport Development’s Christo Venter. Vehicles and transport hubs are ideal places for infections to spread, leading to the shutdown of transport services... →

Christo Venter

PRASA turnaround under way despite delays

By: Simone Liedtke 7th May 2020 The turnaround of State-owned Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is on track, albeit with delays, in part owing to the situation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo has revealed. In a webinar on May 7, he lamented that the passenger rail agency had... →

PRASA operations to resume under lockdown Level 3

By: Simone Liedtke 7th May 2020 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) operations are set to resume under Lockdown Alert Level 3, administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo confirmed in a webinar on May 7. The passenger rail agency terminated all services during the initial lockdown period (Level 5), and has continued to do... →

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