Metrorail is the commuter rail service in the major urban areas of South Africa. It is a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), a state-owned enterprise which is responsible for most passenger rail services in South Africa. The Metrorail system consists of 471 stations, 2,228 kilometres (1,384 mi) of track, and carries an average of 1.7 million passengers per weekday.(wikipedia.com)

East Wits (Johannesburg)
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West Wits (Johannesburg)
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Durban
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Pretoria
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Cape Town
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Why I opened this thread? It is said that SA never had real mass transit etc...But I belive Metrorail was a very good idea, and even the system is now run-down, it could become something like Paris RER, Berlin S-Bahn, Budapest HEV, etc. What is your opinion regarding this?

I'm not aware on how all those rail system function but I agree that Metro rail can be a proper rail system and with SARCC's focus I think it will definately serve the purpose. The next focus should be to extend the lines to cover more areas or even use taxis as feeder to the rail system.

To change Metrorail into anything that closely resembles "proper", you will need to first shift the mass-consciousness of [as quoted] 1.7 million users. It is disgusting, un-kept and run-down service.

If run by competent people it could be an excellent service.

We can only hope that some day in the future that is the case.

To change Metrorail into anything that closely resembles "proper", you will need to first shift the mass-consciousness of [as quoted] 1.7 million users. It is disgusting, un-kept and run-down service.

Not entirely true. When I lived in CPT I used the metrorail every day to get to work. It was a 5min walk to the station, and a 2min walk afterwards. At just over R100 a month it was absolute bargain.

I also used the trains to get around during the day. The bugger is the trains stopped running fairly early, and that at night it wasn't safe. But during the day on most lines there weren't any safety issues that I picked up beyond that of using trains anywhere else in the world.

Yes, upgrade are welcome. Some proper ticketing and signalling... and strikes really suck... could definitely help, but I think the biggest thing is getting more stations and extending the lines. Also, making it possible to travel between different lines further out of CPT instead of having to travel into town to connect.

Any hope of new train models being used for the new stations?A major deterrent for me has been those God awful,time warping SAR Class 5M2s.I really like the 10M class (http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/sa_electric/emu/class_10m3_plumstead_1_cd.JPG) which I've never seen in Joburg.

I don't think so as they upgrading the 10M5 only at the moment. for Joburg and Pretoria

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/sa_electric/emu/10m5_kzn_03_dn06.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/sa_electric/emu/10m5_kzn_01_dn06.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/sa_electric/emu/10m5_kzn_10_dn06.JPG

The City of Cape Town indicated that future housing developments should occur near public transport sectors. It was also indicated that new trains will be needed to replace the existing ones. However, what I don;t understand is why on earth the trams were ripped out?

Not entirely true. When I lived in CPT I used the metrorail every day to get to work. It was a 5min walk to the station, and a 2min walk afterwards. At just over R100 a month it was absolute bargain.

I also used the trains to get around during the day. The bugger is the trains stopped running fairly early, and that at night it wasn't safe. But during the day on most lines there weren't any safety issues that I picked up beyond that of using trains anywhere else in the world.

Yes, upgrade are welcome. Some proper ticketing and signalling... and strikes really suck... could definitely help, but I think the biggest thing is getting more stations and extending the lines. Also, making it possible to travel between different lines further out of CPT instead of having to travel into town to connect.

it is now R128 and is still a moerse bargain, very reliable, i've had trains on schadule 97% of the time over the course of the year

From what i have read, both Cape Town and Durban are actively going to expand and enhance their rail networks. I am not sure of the plans in Cape Town, but in Durban they are currently building 6 additional stations.

Plans over the next 5 years include the opening of the new route on the northern line that goes to Bridge City and the extension of this line in Inanda with 3 additional stations. The main northern line will gain two additional spurs. The first will go into the massive new Cornubia development that will be home to over 100,000 people. The plans are for 5 stations within Cornubia, with the last station right next to the N2 highway and the Umhlanga Ridge new town centre.

The second spur will connect the King Shaka Airport to the network.

The City of Cape Town indicated that future housing developments should occur near public transport sectors. It was also indicated that new trains will be needed to replace the existing ones. However, what I don;t understand is why on earth the trams were ripped out?

Memorandum of understanding signed between PRASA and Cape Town

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 762/ 2009
17 NOVEMBER 2009

Executive Mayor Dan Plato, Mr Piet van Zyl, the City’s Executive Director for Strategy and Planning and Mr Tshepo Lucky Montana, CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) today, 17 November, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in terms of which the City of Cape Town and PRASA will seek to maximise the development opportunities associated with land they own around railway stations and along railway lines.

This MOU will open the way for the construction of high density housing on well-located land within Cape Town owned jointly by PRASA and the City.

The MOU also commits both parties to further develop the areas around stations by encouraging a range of different social and economic activities in these environments. These activities can be made viable and sustainable through integration with the rail network. Such mixed-use areas have the potential to create unique environments for promoting community access to socio-economic opportunities within rail corridors, and will also support a range of densified housing developments.

Cape Town is faced with the dual challenge of managing the need for sustainable growth and development, while at the same time meeting the increasing demand for new housing. Increasing residential density is a key strategy for meeting these demands. The City needs to maximise the use of the very limited land – especially well-located land - that is available for building homes for those in need. Well planned, higher density residential buildings are the most viable option to effectively and efficiently solve the housing challenge in Cape Town. Well-located land refers to land in close proximity to public transport routes, activity routes and corridors where a range of amenities and conveniences are available.

This kind of strategic development is also important for making public transport systems viable and encouraging developments which are not car dependent and where people can access facilities, amenities, conveniences and opportunities on foot as well as by public transport. Higher densities are also more conducive to sustainable local economic development opportunities.

The MOU envisages a closer working relationship between the City and PRASA to ensure that the City’s proposed urban growth corridors are supported by rail-based public transport where this exists. It will also ensure that where there are opportunities for new passenger rail services, that the development of these corridors and services are aligned.

This MOU supports the Regional Rail Plan (a joint plan of the City and PRASA), the City’s Integrated Transport Plan (ITP), the City’s draft Spatial Development Framework and the City’s draft Densification Strategy.

The signatories to this Memorandum are intent on promoting corridor densification and mixed use nodal intensification along designated rail and growth corridors and in particular at stations. In doing so, they:
1. acknowledge the importance of rail in supporting the public transport aims of the City of Cape Town

2. will promote land use densification along current and proposed rail corridors, supportive of the City’s growth corridors, in a manner that promotes rail use and encourages modal integration

3. will strive to intensify station precinct development through the encouragement of viable and integrated mixed use activity nodes which create unique sustainable community environments in partnership with all spheres of government, the private sector, the international community and civil society

4. will promote access to socio-economic opportunities within the densified corridors and nodal precincts

5. will provide access to a full range of housing opportunities that are supportive of sustainable communities

6. will jointly identify strategic landholdings within the ownership of PRASA, and its subsidiaries Intersite and/or the City that can advance the aims of this MOU

7. undertake to jointly determine the best use of all identified landholdings and develop these landholdings in line with Government’s socio-economic objectives and in accordance with all appropriate statutory planning and development processes

The City and PRASA have agreed on an action plan and joint planning committee to implement the aims of this MOU, including the prioritisation of the development of a maximum of three key stations. This will allow the two parties to align their planning, including in the City’s north-eastern growth corridor.

“This MOU represents a major step forward in making full use of the available urban land resources in the City and PRASA’s portfolios as well as moving towards a more efficient, functional city design based on high density targeted development,” said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.

Thanks Mo

In my mind I can see so much potential in Metrorail. I don’t know if the problem is lack of vision on the company’s part or lack of funding. If some of the outlying stations were connected to other outlying stations it would make a hell of a lot of difference. Stellenbosch or Strand could so easily be connected to Heathfield via the Cape Flats. In my mind anyway.

Thought I'd be clever this morning and bought a weekly from Simon's Town to Strand so I'd have full access to the line this week as I'm going to be doing a lot of travelling. Well, it doesn't work that way. The bastards wouldn't let me exit at Cape Town this morning (had to sneak through a different turnstile). I know I'm not allowed to use the ticket more than twice a day, but is it not my prerogative where I get out the goddamn train if I've paid the fare? Nice way to start a week. Thanks Metrofail.:ohno:

WTF? Where is the logic in not letting you off of it? :nuts:

Thought I'd be clever this morning and bought a weekly from Simon's Town to Strand so I'd have full access to the line this week as I'm going to be doing a lot of travelling. Well, it doesn't work that way. The bastards wouldn't let me exit at Cape Town this morning (had to sneak through a different turnstile). I know I'm not allowed to use the ticket more than twice a day, but is it not my prerogative where I get out the goddamn train if I've paid the fare? Nice way to start a week. Thanks Metrofail.:ohno:

If it doesn't say Cape Town on the ticket, you can't get off at Cape Town Station. How about this I can't buy a return from Retreat to Cape Town, I have to buy two singles. Why I ask? The reply: "we don't know, head office told us". Guess they don't want people to use the a return on a cape flats and simonstown route!

^^ Pathetic. They have a stupid ticketing system so apply one off rules to certain parts of it to cover themselves.

To conclude with my experience today: I just changed my ticket at Cape Town Station. Didn't even get a refund of the difference. They were quite reasonable about it though. I was given a very good piece of advice by a staff member: If you want full access, buy a Simon's Town - Strand ticket and supplement it with a Salt River - Cape Town ticket. That way you can get on and off anyway you like for + / - R130 a week.:cheers:

Does anyone know what's up with that burnt out train in the depot near Salt River? I don't recognise the rolling stock.

Can’t Metrorail/Prasa/someone do something about the miles and miles and miles of shit littered alongside railway lines and stations? The northern suburbs is particularly shocking.

PRASA now has a site: www.prasa.com!

^^Impressive, nice background pic of the Nasrec train station aswell

http://www.prasa.com/Images/FramePhoto5.jpg

Metrorail truly sucks. Nothing but cancelations and delays this week.

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World Cup Service Levels

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4445323537_2b059fe31d_o.jpg

Destination Stations

Slide 35 .O {font-size:149%;}

1.Cape Town
2.Athlone
3.Bellville
4.Mitchell’s Plain
5.Nonqubela





Major Stations:


Oosterzee
Goodwood
Ottery
Century City
Claremont
Kuilsriver
Fish Hoek
Retreat
Strand
Brackenfell

Minor Stations:

Khayelitsha
Kraaifontein
Monte Vista
Lansdowne
Muizenberg
Plumstead
Philippi
Langa
Heideveld
Nyanga
Eersteriver


Minor Station services:

Safety & Security
Lighting
Event branding
Feeder services - last mile home
Existing safe parking
Legacy Signage
Traders / Vendors
Site management: Waste & Cleansing

Major stations will have the additional services:

Event Signage
Information desks
Additional ticketing outlet
Tourism pick-up and drop-off
Additional safe parking
Additional staff / volunteers
NMT Facilities
Arts & Culture (??)

How Oosterzee is a major station, I don't know. The ticket office is no longer used, and there are no trains on Sundays any more....

And Strand? Undoubtedly an important part of the metropole, but the station is one platform and uses signalling technology from the Victorian era.

I took a train from Somerset West on Saturday that I was told by the information centre would take me all the way back to Town. Not so. At Bellville it turned around and sped to the Kraaifontein depot where it parked with me in it. FML. Had to climb out the driver’s cab and run on the lines to Kraaifontein station to get a Cape Town train.

And Strand? Undoubtedly an important part of the metropole, but the station is one platform and uses signalling technology from the Victorian era.

I took a train from Somerset West on Saturday that I was told by the information centre would take me all the way back to Town. Not so. At Bellville it turned around and sped to the Kraaifontein depot where it parked with me in it. FML. Had to climb out the driver’s cab and run on the lines to Kraaifontein station to get a Cape Town train.

Haven't we all run on the tracks before. LOL

Haven't we all run on the tracks before. LOL

Lol. Yeah, but in my case it’s becoming a regular occurrence. Jumping out of broken down trains, stuck in depots. What next? I’m sure this constitutes some kind of health and safety issue.

[QUOTE=Urban Rambler;53955001]And Strand? Undoubtedly an important part of the metropole, but the station is one platform and uses signalling technology from the Victorian era.

I took a train from Somerset West on Saturday that I was told by the information centre would take me all the way back to Town. Not so. At Bellville it turned around and sped to the Kraaifontein depot where it parked with me in it. FML. Had to climb out the driver’s cab and run on the lines to Kraaifontein station to get a Cape Town train.[/QUOY

You have got to be kidding. That is the norm on Sundays. All trains from Strand on a Sunday stops Bellville. From there you have to go to Platform 9 or 11 to catch a train to town. I know this, was a train juncky in my youth when I studied.

Lol. Yeah, but in my case it’s becoming a regular occurrence. Jumping out of broken down trains, stuck in depots. What next? I’m sure this constitutes some kind of health and safety issue.

I was on train that caught fire once. Beat that

Public transport sounds like fun :banana:

If Metrorai is "an operator" but fails to operate a decent service,should they not be replaced?

they must definitely be replaced!

Metrorail has published info on trains running to stadiums in gauteng during the world cup:

http://www.metrorail.co.za/pdf/Gauteng_2010_Train_Service_Plan.pdf

202 special train trips to NASREC, incl. 38 trains for the opening and 32 for the final
240 special train trips to Loftus, 40 trains per game
168 special train trips to Ellis Park, 24 trains per game

MEC ready to play hardball with train operators
Chantall Presence | 1 Hour Ago


Transport MEC Robin Carlisle is prepared to play hardball with Metrorail and the Passenger Rail Agency.

Carlisle said if they do not increase trains on key lines in the Peninsula, he will be forced to declare an intergovernmental dispute.

The MEC delivered his budget vote in the Western Cape Legislature on Friday. He outlined the dire need for a better equipped public transport system.

Carlisle said he used a train to get to work this morning.

He is a great believer in public transport, but he said trains need to be improved. He added his repeated calls for more train sets have fallen on deaf ear.

The MEC called the Khayelitsha to Cape Town line was the busiest in the country, yet there are a limited amount of trains available, resulting in horrible conditions for commuters.

“At the moment about 75 trains operate in the Western Cape. We should have 130. It’s just inhumane how people have to travel. The crowding in… trains - it’s just sickening. It’s unacceptable.”

Carlisle warned Metrorail and Prasa are sitting on a "time bomb" of a serious accident which could leave thousands dead.

(Edited by Danya Philander

If Prasa is serious about electronic ticketing, how come new turnstiles have been installed on the station? How will this integrate with IRT? Nevertheless, I’m definitely seeing progress in that dank dungeon between the main concourse and the platforms. I also noticed last night when entering the station at the Oswald Pirow entrance that most of the traders at the taxi rank concourse seemed to be packing up their shops into cars (parked in the concourse area, I might add). Is this a regular occurrence or are they being evicted for renovations? Metrorail is piss poor this week so I need good news.

EDIT: This totally should have been in the Cape Town Station thread. Sorry, wasn’t thinking.

If Metrorai is "an operator" but fails to operate a decent service,should they not be replaced?

Metrorail is an utter failure. They will FAIL the World Cup.

MEC ready to play hardball with train operators
Chantall Presence | 1 Hour Ago


Transport MEC Robin Carlisle is prepared to play hardball with Metrorail and the Passenger Rail Agency.

Carlisle said if they do not increase trains on key lines in the Peninsula, he will be forced to declare an intergovernmental dispute.

The MEC delivered his budget vote in the Western Cape Legislature on Friday. He outlined the dire need for a better equipped public transport system.

Carlisle said he used a train to get to work this morning.

He is a great believer in public transport, but he said trains need to be improved. He added his repeated calls for more train sets have fallen on deaf ear.

The MEC called the Khayelitsha to Cape Town line was the busiest in the country, yet there are a limited amount of trains available, resulting in horrible conditions for commuters.

“At the moment about 75 trains operate in the Western Cape. We should have 130. It’s just inhumane how people have to travel. The crowding in… trains - it’s just sickening. It’s unacceptable.”

Carlisle warned Metrorail and Prasa are sitting on a "time bomb" of a serious accident which could leave thousands dead.

(Edited by Danya Philander

Amen to this. I travel on the Northern Line via Salt River to Newlands. When the trains are late/cancelled the trains are packed & 3rd class passengers spill over in to 1st class.Something needs to be done.

Metrorail is an utter failure. They will FAIL the World Cup.



Amen to this. I travel on the Northern Line via Salt River to Newlands. When the trains are late/cancelled the trains are packed & 3rd class passengers spill over in to 1st class.Something needs to be done.

Southern line?

Southern line?

Mixture of the two, Northern to Salt River then Southern to Newlands.

But I agree, far too many cancellations so soon ahead of the world cup. And the trains they took out of service haven't come back yet.. I hope they actually finish with them before the world cup.

We've got to rally behind Carlise, an extra +- 50 trains for cape town would make for an amazing service. Surely it's something government can spend a few million on, completely worth it.

they need to overhaul the whole cape town service. i lived in kirstenhof, not too far from retreat and the potential of the southern line is mind bending... but what is potential without action. trains are full of graffiti, stations stink of piss and from experience muggings do happen. maybe if the government invested some money in upgrading infrastructure from rolling stock to stations to security more of the upper middle class would feel comfortable using public transport as a viable means of transport...

they need to overhaul the whole cape town service. i lived in kirstenhof, not too far from retreat and the potential of the southern line is mind bending... but what is potential without action. trains are full of graffiti, stations stink of piss and from experience muggings do happen. maybe if the government invested some money in upgrading infrastructure from rolling stock to stations to security more of the upper middle class would feel comfortable using public transport as a viable means of transport...

Well Retreat station must be one of the worst on the Southern Line, most stations are fine really. Retreat joins the Cape Flats line and it's not really in a middle class area at all.

They can do a lot more but they did just build the park and ride at Retreat and they installed the PA systems.

In all seriousness, is it possible to do something about this Metrorail problem? Last night my train stopped outside Salt River station for 50 minutes without any explanation. I have come to the conclusion (late because of blind optimism) that nothing will be done to improve the “service” before the World Cup, or ever. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong and Metrorail will carry on as normal, making a profit from us commuters, until a packed rush hour train derails killing hundreds. They won’t be embarrassed, we will. So what can we do? Will a petition work to get government to appoint a new operator or is Metrorail too ingrained in the fabric of the country? Since BRT will not be positioned to compete with this utter piece of shit there’s no reason for them to improve. The railways need a complete overhaul. It’s a complete fucking mess and it’s literally ruining my quality of life.

My idea for a common IRT and PRASA suburban station upgrade.

Many stations have very minimal cover. This is just a generic. Julius Station!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/4562260665_ac26eb0744_o.pnghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/4562260667_8ebaf2b2ef_o.pnghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/4562260663_69608659ae_o.png

In all seriousness, is it possible to do something about this Metrorail problem? Last night my train stopped outside Salt River station for 50 minutes without any explanation. I have come to the conclusion (late because of blind optimism) that nothing will be done to improve the “service” before the World Cup, or ever. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong and Metrorail will carry on as normal, making a profit from us commuters, until a packed rush hour train derails killing hundreds. They won’t be embarrassed, we will. So what can we do? Will a petition work to get government to appoint a new operator or is Metrorail too ingrained in the fabric of the country? Since BRT will not be positioned to compete with this utter piece of shit there’s no reason for them to improve. The railways need a complete overhaul. It’s a complete fucking mess and it’s literally ruining my quality of life.

This morning the train had to switch platforms so the Metrorail guys were shouting and laughing "we apologise for the incovenience again". Not even their workers take the company seriously anymore!

Does anyone know how good / bad the Durban network is? Is it safe to travel on down to the South Coast line? My wife (from Pinetown) says that she went on it as a child and the section Scottborough to Kelso was very scenic, along the coast, similar to the Dawlish line in Cornwall (UK).
Thanks
signol

The headline of the Cape Argus today points to exactly what Urban Rambler is getting at...Commuters turning on commuters...huge problems coming in 2013...government funding not nearly enough...
Personal experience of the trains have been okay...but that's the Southern Line...wouldn't use any other very easily.

A little more news:

Mother of strikes to hit SA
Apr 30 2010 15:42
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Johannesburg - South Africa's transport system is expected to be brought to a standstill from May 10 as 50 000 Transnet workers plan to strike over a wage dispute.

"This will be the biggest strike in the history of South Africa," said Chris de Vos, general secretary of the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) at a press conference in Johannesburg on Friday.

"It will make all other strikes look like kindergarten parties." Utatu will join the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) in the national strike against parastatal Transnet. It is expected to affect all freight rail, shipping and harbours, and fuel and coal line services.

While Metrorail employees are not expected to join the strike yet, they are in a similar wage dispute through the same unions, and it is possible that they could still join. SA Airways will not participate.

"It will affect everything," said Satawu general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu. "Freight, pipelines, ships - the delivery of goods incoming and outgoing from our ports and the coal lines coming in and out."

He said if the strike was prolonged, it might lead to a "serious" fuel problem in the country.

The unions said they are united in their cause of getting a 15% wage hike for their members across the board. Transnet is offering 8% increases.

Satawu's Jane Barret said the strike would be indefinite until an agreement had been reached, but said it was improbable that it would last until the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

"It is unlikely that we won't get a settlement in five weeks," she said.

Mahlangu said the strike could still be called off, should Transnet come up with a "substantial" settlement.

"We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused," he said. "Strike action is not a tactic we like to use, but we use it as a last resort. Our members are eager to strike. They would go on strike today if they were allowed."

Mahlangu said the Transnet employees felt cheated and their morale was the lowest it had been in 40 years.

Other than the wage issue, among other demands the unions also wanted contract workers employed on a permanent basis and a guarantee that no retrenchments would be made for the next year.

Of Transnet workers, 87% are unionised.

New rail fleet will need to be purchased in 2011 for arrival by 2013. The DA in the Western Cape even offered a few billion to PRASA if they could reallocated funds that were meant for a road project.

Will a petition work to get government to appoint a new operator or is Metrorail too ingrained in the fabric of the country?

I don't think a petition will work at all, but that's just because no one listens to petitions. :)

It is possible to get a new operator though, most of the trains, tracks and stations aren't owned by Metrorail. You could basically just kick out all the management and replace them, plus a few of the guards/ticket people if you ask me. A lot of them are useless, except the premium service ones.

I have to praise Golden Arrow for taking up the slack this week. Sure, I get home an hour later than normal but I'm really quite impressed with the newish white buses. They're quite modern inside - much better than those mustard relics and much better than the trains. Still, I'll never understand why these buses were built to be so high up from the curb. Why must I climb a staircase to get into a bus? I still believe that Golden Arrow and Metrorail have huge untapped potential.

I have to praise Golden Arrow for taking up the slack this week. Sure, I get home an hour later than normal but I'm really quite impressed with the newish white buses. They're quite modern inside - much better than those mustard relics and much better than the trains. Still, I'll never understand why these buses were built to be so high up from the curb. Why must I climb a staircase to get into a bus? I still believe that Golden Arrow and Metrorail have huge untapped potential.

Golden Arrow have had the potential for too long as the main bus service and they have done nothing with it.

Our rail system has potential, not necessarily Metrorail. Metrorail is just an operator who barely operates.

I have to disagree with you Mo. Remember GA competes with the taxi industry and that they had no real political support whatsoever. Remember when the taxi industry threatened their bus drivers, stoning them or shooting at them. Also we look at the IRT Stations and we say wow, but there was no way that GA could have embarked on such expenditure without financial support and since we all know that it is only happening because of the World Cup it would never have happened.

At least they run on schedule mostly. We know that the taxi guys will be getting a slice of the IRT pie, but what about GA will they get shafted?

I have to disagree with you Mo. Remember GA competes with the taxi industry and that they had no real political support whatsoever. Remember when the taxi industry threatened their bus drivers, stoning them or shooting at them. Also we look at the IRT Stations and we say wow, but there was no way that GA could have embarked on such expenditure without financial support and since we all know that it is only happening because of the World Cup it would never have happened.

At least they run on schedule mostly. We know that the taxi guys will be getting a slice of the IRT pie, but what about GA will they get shafted?

They've been subsidized for years now and have basically run as a monopoly of crap service. There are no excuses. They are a private company.

GA provided all the buses for the first test events.

GA decided NOT to tender for the World Cup starter service, thats why it went to two taxi operators.

GA have decided to tender for the post WC operations of the City Centre IRT service.

They also run a service on the West Coast route and will benefit from that tender too.

They are a private company.

There's your problem! Well I see it as a problem anyway as I advocate a nationalised public transport system. Juju would be proud.

There's your problem! Well I see it as a problem anyway as I advocate a nationalised public transport system. Juju would be proud.
a private company that gets government subsidies.

a private company that gets government subsidies.

give a monkey peanuts and it will behave like one!

Last month we visited relatives in Durban, and took a ride on the Metrorail line along the coast, from Amanzimtoti to Scottburgh. Here are a couple of pics.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1079/5154543222_8bc23db022.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1046/5153933727_113ac93856.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/5154542362_be99f1a2a8.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/5154541934_cc3d8dc52f.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5154541448_01eeaa049a.jpg

signol

Rail agency gets investment green lights
April 7 2011 at 03:48pm


Independent Newspapers
http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/prasa-1.1053728!/image/2270150144.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/2270150144.jpg
The Doornfontein station is the first in a number of Passenger Rail Station upgrades to be undertaken by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). Picture: Ziphozonke Lushaba.

The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has welcomed government's green-light for a multi-year, multi-billion rand recapitalisation of both freight and passenger rail.

Prasa's operational divisions - Metrorail and Passenger Mainline (Shosholoza Meyl) - would get 8600 new coaches (equal to 718 new train sets) and 2000 new locomotives (diesel engines) respectively, it said in a statement on Thursday.

Prasa was expecting delivery of the first batch of trains in 2015, in time for the replacement of about 2200 obsolete coaches, almost half of the operating fleet of 4600 whose average age was 36 years.

“A significant number of our trains are due for retirement between 2013 and 2015,” Prasa CEO Lucky Montana said.

“The age profile and the fleet introduced 40 years ago is not viable anymore technologically and, if we do not urgently replace the rolling stock, Metrorail will face certain collapse,” he said.

Under its 1994 mandate, Prasa, then still operating as the SA Rail Commuter Corporation, “arrested the decline in Metrorail services and stabilised passenger rail services”.

Between 2004 and 2010, Prasa spent R7 billion on refurbishment of 2000 coaches in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

“If we did not intervene and stabilise the decline in Metrorail, we would not be speaking of passenger rail services today,” Montana said.

Prasa had acknowledged, however, that the stabilisation and R7 billion refurbishments were not enough to improve the customer experience on passenger rail services in line with world standards.

“We spent R23 million just to keep the service running while Metrorail still does not deliver a world class service.

“Arresting the decline of our passenger rail services as part of our mandate has not been effectively felt and experienced by our consumers at platform level who still face daily delays and service interruption as a result of an old and under-resourced passenger rail service.

“What we need is new rolling stock urgently, that will be the deciding factor in improving our customer experience and elevating rail as the backbone of public transportation,” Montana said. - Sapa

Train schedule on your cell - from iAfrica
Thu, 05 May 2011 8:23


Grapevine Interactive, a mobile services firm, has launched a free mobile internet site for Cape Town metro train users of the Southern and Northern lines.

Until now, commuters have found it very difficult to get hold of metro train schedules without either physically being at a station or having access to a computer. Now it's as easy as picking up your cellphone.

With more commuters shifting from car to train transport as their most cost-effective option, especially due to the recent fuel price hikes, there is an increased demand for rapid access to train timetable data. Although one can access schedules via a PC connected to the Internet, a number of commuters indicated a need for a simple, easy-to-access timetable service on their mobile phones.

Grapevine Interactive's .mobi site (go to cttrains.mobi from your cellphone browser) allows anyone with a WAP-capable cellphone to access the standard daily train schedules for the Southern line from Cape Town-to-Simonstown, and the Northern line from Cape Town-to-Bellville. The schedules work in either direction, include all stations in-between and take into account week days, weekends and public holidays. Special train times are not included.

The cttrains.mobi site was initially created as a training exercise for new cellphone application developers at Grapevine Interactive, but it soon became apparent that the greater Cape Town community could make use of this easy-to-use tool. Grapevine Interactive has now launched the system to commuters as a free service, except for data charges that may be incurred by the mobile operators. The public schedules are accurately reproduced by the service, but unfortunately if there are cancellations Grapevine will not be notified about it.

Cliff Court, Grapevine Interactive's Chief Technology Officer, said in discussing the .mobi site, "Once we had developed the site and had shown it to a few train users, it became clear that this was tremendously useful to them. We then decided to offer the system as a free-of-charge service for commuters."

Grapevine Interactive has included a feedback option within the .mobi site so that the public can let them know what they think of the site and how it can be improved for even more convenience. If the usage of the site is high, Grapevine Interactive has undertaken to add additional line schedules as well.

I have to say the transport information hotline (0800 65 64 63) that has existed for some time is a decent service. They’re always quick to answer and assist.

My experience of that number is not bad either - always had to call them up from my house in Simons Town to see about bus times coz Golden Arrow service the area so sporadically, and has fokol schedule and I usually had to ask maids from the area before then. Catching the train was easy though, i could see the train rounding the corner from Fish Hoek, and knew I had 20 minutes to get to the station!

Hundreds Injured in Soweto Train Smash

A total of 644 passengers were injured, two critically, when two trains collided in Meadowlands, Soweto on Thursday, Johannesburg paramedics said.

Soweto Train Smash(Gallo Images)

Gallo Images

"We had a total of two men who were critically injured and airlifted to Charlotte Maxeke academic hospital, and 642 with minor and serious injuries," Netcare 911 spokesman Jeff Wicks told Sapa from the scene.

"[The increase in total injuries] shows the chaos of the scene. We had people who were sprayed 200 metres around the trains...on arrival, paramedics found passengers from both trains lying on the track," he said.

Johannesburg emergency services spokesman Synock Matobako said that about 150 of the injured were transported to various hospitals in the area.

A Sapa reporter on the scene said that a moving train had seemingly hit a stationary train at Phomolong station around 5.30pm.

Paramedics would be at the scene for the next two hours.

Curious Sowetans had rushed to the scene out of concern for possible injured relatives.

"I heard a loud bang while watching television and came rushing to see if any of my relatives were in the train," said bystander Teko Peu.

He was expecting his sister to arrive by the train from work.

"I haven't heard from her and I wonder whether she is among the injured.

"Gladwell Ntusi who was in one of the trains said he heard a loud bang, screams and he realised something was wrong.

"People were screaming, some jumped out of the windows," he said.

"It was horrible, I saw people with broken legs, other had cracked their temples... it was not a nice scene," he said his eyes red with tears.

Injured people were lying next to the tracks covered with plastic to ward off the cold while waiting for their turn in the ambulance. Rescue workers searched the trains for more people.

"There is no one there, come this way," shouted one paramedic directing his crew to where more people were in need of assistance.

Ambulance sirens could be heard from a distance and flashing lights dominated what should have been a peaceful Soweto evening.

Martha Ngune who live s near the station said she was shocked about the accident.

"It is as if I am dreaming, How could the trains collided head-on? Something must be done. Were there no signals to warn that the trains were on the same rail track," she asked.

Fifteen ambulances were dashing in and out transporting the injured to Chris Hani Baragwanath, Helen Joseph and various private hospitals in Gauteng.