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Public Transport News

Gautrain expansion decision ‘not imminent’, warns MEC Vadi

By: Irma Venter 22nd October 2018 Government’s sign-off on the expansion of the Gautrain rail network “is not imminent”, warns Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi. He noted on Monday that the feasibility study for the proposed Gauteng Rapid Rail Integrated Network Extension Plan had been completed. This study concluded... →

Cape Town e-bus rollout in limbo until Whitehead investigation wraps up end-2018

By: Irma Venter 17th October 2018 The City of Cape Town’s bid to use electric buses within its MyCiti system has been stalled by the investigation into former Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA) commissioner Melissa Whitehead. A fleet of eleven electric buses was scheduled for arrival by the end of 2017, “operating by... →

Rail to form backbone of South African transport, mobility by 2050

By: Simone Liedtke 11th October 2018 The draft White Paper on National Rail Policy is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the legislative process only expected to begin post the 2019 national elections. The promulgation of the draft White Paper will be the first instance in which government will be giving the... →

Losses due to arson attacks on Metrorail trains closing in on R700m

By: African News Agency 9th October 2018 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) on Tuesday put its losses due to arson attacks on its Metrorail trains at R636-million over the past three years. Briefing Parliament's portfolio committee on transport, PRASA chief executive Sibusiso Sithole said 71% of the arson attacks had... →

Three new midibus routes launched on Gautrain system

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th October 2018 Three new routes have been added to the Gautrain midibus system, from the Gautrain Marlboro station to Kelvin, Buccleuch and Greenstone Mall. The new routes were opened on September 17, but were officially launched on Monday at the Marlboro station by Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi. →

Cape Town adds direct routes, 29 new bus stops to MyCiti service

By: Irma Venter 8th October 2018 The City of Cape Town will introduce a number of new routes and bus stops to its MyCiti bus service, starting October 27. “Our transport planners recently conducted a review of the MyCiTi service and the passenger demand on the MyCiTi routes,” says Cape Town Transport and Urban Development MMC... →

Nzimande urges Prasa, rail regulator to resolve trains safety impasse out of court

By: African News Agency 8th October 2018 Transport minister Blade Nzimande on Monday appealed to both the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to find an out of court settlement in the interests of millions of commuters who daily use the Metrorail, in a stand off over safety. The regulator... →

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande

Local strides to hydrogen economy tempered by cost, industrialisation questions

By: Schalk Burger 27th September 2018 The use of platinum group metals-based fuel cells in electricity and mobility applications is expected to provide ample commercial opportunities for South Africa, in line with worldwide trends to decarbonise electricity generation and transport. However, the high cost of these technologies,... →

PRASA 'indefinitely' suspends trains in KZN

By: News24Wire 25th September 2018 There will be no trains in the entire province of KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) confirmed to News24 on Monday evening. PRASA provincial spokesperson Zama Nomnganga said they have indefinitely suspended all their operations in KZN. "Yes, we have done... →

Bombardier Transportation’s electric train makes its public debut

By: Irma Venter 14th September 2018 Bombardier Transportation’s new battery-operated train, the Bombardier Talent 3 electro-hybrid train, was introduced to the German public this week. “We want to continue to electrify rail transport. A train that can charge its batteries from the overhead line while driving is a huge step toward... →

African rail industry urged to adopt concepts of Fourth Industrial Revolution

By: Nadine James 4th September 2018 The African rail industry must adopt the concepts and develop the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to facilitate, and realise, the industrialisation aspirations of the continent, delegates attending a South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) technical workshop, on Tuesday,... →

Mobility as a Service could be defining in the future of city transport – ITLS

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th August 2018 Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) can, when integrated with smart mobility and public transport, provide efficient transport services for city inhabitants, says Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS) founder and director and Sydney Business School Professor David Hensher. Speaking at a... →

Untu warns against PRASA’s continued safety noncompliance

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th August 2018 The United National Transport Union (Untu) believes government and Transport Minister Blade Nzimande can be held accountable for any injuries incurred by employees or commuters of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), owing to “blatant disregard” for basic safety procedures set down... →

Uber says concerned over some proposed changes to transport law

By: African News Agency 20th August 2018 Riding service Uber said on Monday it was concerned over some proposed amendments to the National Land Transport Act, including a clause instructing e-hailing operators to deny access to their systems to any driver without the necessary operating licence. Under the clause, ridesharing and... →

Gautrain strike over after workers accept 8% wage offer

By: African News Agency 13th August 2018 A two-week strike by Gautrain workers ended on Monday after workers accepted an offer by the Bombela Concession Company, operator of the high speed commuter rail system, of a one-year wage offer of eight% salary increments for about 90% of employees. Gautrain workers downed tools on July 30,... →

Uber rival Taxify bets on motorcycles and rickshaws in East Africa

By: Reuters 10th August 2018 Taxify, an Estonian ride-hailing company aiming to take on Uber in emerging markets, will invest millions of euros in East Africa in the next five years with a strategy focused on motorised rickshaws and motorcycles, it said on Thursday. The company, which already operates in five cities in... →

Western Cape lawmakers begin public hearings to regulate Uber

By: African News Agency 6th August 2018 The Western Cape provincial standing committee on transport and public works will on Wednesday hold its first public hearings into the National Land Transport Amendment Bill aimed at regulating e-hailing services, which include Uber and Taxify. The National Land Transport Act was passed to... →

R100 000 reward offered for info on Cape Town train fires

By: News24Wire 6th August 2018 The Western Cape government is offering a R100 000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of whoever is burning trains in Cape Town. "The R100 000 reward we are making available is our warning to these arsonists: You are being watched, you will be caught and we will... →

UNTU says accepts CCMA’s offer to help resolve Gautrain wage dispute

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd August 2018 The United National Transport Union (UNTU) has accepted the invitation of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to try and resolve the Gautrain strike that entered its fifth day on Friday. Subsequently, Gautrain has also accepted the invitation, as it is concerned... →

Bombela sets Gautrain contingency plan in motion as strike goes ahead

By: Simone Liedtke 30th July 2018 Wage negotiations between Gautrain operator Bombela Operating Company (BOC) and trade union, the United National Transport Union (UNTU) have reached a deadlock and, owing to this, UNTU-affiliated workers have embarked on a “no work, no pay” strike from Monday. BOC offered an 8.5% increase in... →

UNTU, Bombela to continue weekend talks to avoid planned Gautrain strike

By: Simone Liedtke 27th July 2018 Following the meeting held on Thursday between Gautrain operator Bombela Operating Company (BOC) and trade union, the United National Transport Union, negotiations to find a settlement in the current wage dispute have resumed on Friday and will continue over the course of the weekend. If no... →

No longer flavour of the month, SA rethinks its bus rapid transit systems

By: Irma Venter 27th July 2018 It seems government’s love affair with bus rapid transit (BRT) systems has cooled. Courted in the Brazilian city of Curutiba – it is difficult to find a local government transport executive who has not been there on a study tour – and sworn to fidelity in the pressure cooker years before the... →

Another Metrorail train on fire in Cape Town, bringing the number of incidents to five

By: News24Wire 26th July 2018 Yet another Metrorail train was in flames in Cape Town on Thursday - this time in Retreat. It is the fifth such incident in Cape Town this year. "Yes, we have confirmation that it is in Retreat," Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said. Scott was still waiting for further details. Fire... →

Gautrain operator requests meeting with union to avoid planned strike

By: Simone Liedtke 25th July 2018 Gautrain-operator Bombela Operating Company (BOC) on Wednesday told Engineering News Online that it remains open to further wage negotiations with trade union, the United National Transport Union (UNTU), after its wage offer was rejected. BOC has requested a meeting with UNTU on July 26. →

Brics bank approves $600m loans for South African, Chinese projects

By: Reuters 24th July 2018 The New Development Bank, set up by the Brics group of emerging economies, has approved loans of $300-million for energy projects in South Africa and $300-million for a transportation project in China. South Africa, which will host a Brics summit later this week in Johannesburg, is trying to... →

Gautrain employees to embark on a strike from July 30

By: Simone Liedtke 24th July 2018 Gautrain employees who are members of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) will embark on a protected strike from July 30. The majority of UNTU members working for the Gautrain voted in favour of a strike at an UNTU mass meeting held in Midrand, on Monday. →

Light rail line in Nigeria's capital opens to passengers

By: Reuters 19th July 2018 Nigeria has opened a new Chinese-built light railway network in the capital Abuja after 11 years of construction, a rare transport project in a nation where economic growth has been stymied for generations by a lack of infrastructure development. Passengers were permitted this week to ride the... →

Transforming public transport hubs key to better city living, says US professor

By: Irma Venter 17th July 2018 Creating transit-oriented developments (TODs) is one way to build a more sustainable city with lower car use and higher density, says University of California, Berkeley, city and regional planning professor emeritus Robert Cervero. TODs refer to public transport hubs evolving into a “place to... →

Gauteng Transport Authority set for rollout in Q1 2019

By: Irma Venter 11th July 2018 Gauteng’s three metros, and all other providers of public transport in the province, will be able to retain their various services’ individualised branding under the new Gauteng Transport Authority (GTA), says Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe. This means that a system such as the... →

GMA CEO Jack van der Merwe

Public transport systems taking too long to develop, says UITP

By: Irma Venter 6th July 2018 Public transport in cities faces a growing number of challenges, says UITP (International Association of Public Transport) secretary general Mohamed Mezghani. The first is a growing urban population with increasing demand for mobility. With 50% of the world’s population living in cities, it means... →

Alstom, Lagos government to collaborate on first two Blue Line metro phases

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th July 2018 French multinational Alstom has signed a heads of agreement with the Lagos state government, which is represented by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (Lamata), for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Lagos Blue Line metro, in Nigeria. →

Expo aims for 50% more visitors this year

By: Halima Frost 29th June 2018 Building on record attendance of more than 2 280 visitors to Africa's leading transport, materials handling, logistics and fleet management event the TruckX Conference and Expo (TruckX) at the Kyalami grand prix circuit, in Midrand, last year, TruckX 2018 hopes to increase this year’s attendance... →

BIGGER SPACE EQUALS BIGGER VISIBILITY The capacity for larger outdoor stands is seen in Sasol’s TruckX 2017 stand

Traffic on Gauteng’s freeways to grow by 50 000 trips a day in 2018

By: Irma Venter 21st June 2018 Current traffic growth on Gauteng’s e-toll freeways is running at around 4%, says South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) planning, toll and transportation project engineer Alan Robinson. This means the current volume of 1.25-million people-trips a day on the e-toll freeway network... →

Gauteng aims for integrated public transport ticketing in 2020

By: Irma Venter 20th June 2018 Gauteng commuters should, in 2020, be able to use one card/ticket for all their public transport journeys, across all modes, such as rail and bus. Speaking at the i-Transport and UATP Go Green, Go Smart conference in Midrand on Wednesday, Gautrain Management Agency technical and project services... →

Gauteng Transport Authority Bill approved by Cabinet, Gautrain 2 ‘held back’ by Treasury

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2018 The bill to establish a Gauteng Transport Authority (GTA) has been approved by Cabinet. Speaking at the i-Transport and UATP Go Green, Go Smart conference in Midrand on Tuesday, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi said the bill would now be tabled at the Gauteng legislature “within the... →

Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi

Metrorail bleeds passengers, has funds to turn around, says planning GM

By: Irma Venter 14th June 2018 Metrorail used to transport around 700-million people a year in the 1980s. Today, however, it is moving 300-million people a year. “We are sitting at an unprecedented level in terms of the performance of our trains,” says Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) strategic network planning GM... →

Digital revolution sees ticketless rail future, says Trenitalia

By: Irma Venter 13th June 2018 The digital revolution will soon affect rail operations at a station and ticketing level, said Trenitalia passenger affairs deputy director Enrico Trapazzo at Africa Rail, held in Johannesburg, on Wednesday. Barrier-less ticketing will enable passengers to walk straight through a station and... →

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