Prasa Rail Ready For Kick Off In 2010!
5 May 2010
For some time now, PRASA has been working as fast as it possibly can to make sure that its train services in Metropolitan areas (Metrorail) and across the country (Shosholoza Meyl), as well as its bus services (Translux and City-to-City) are ready to play their part in the game of the decade.
"PRASA's vision is that every football fan will take the train to every game, travelling in style in its new coaches and enjoying the world class services at the newly refurbished stations. Think it can't be done? PRASA has injected over around R1.7 billion into realising this dream over the next 12 months, plus billions more for refurbishing its trains and buses and improving safety, communications and more! Here's a glimpse of what you can expect", says Prasa Group CEO Tshepo Lucky Montana.
On track for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™
With just weeks to go until the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ kicks off at Soccer City in Johannesburg, PRASA is confident that its transport plans for the event are on track. With around 1 million African visitors and over 400 000 overseas visitors expected to place increased demand on the transport system, the government has promised that South Africa's train, bus and plane services will exceed expectations when the time comes.
We're confident that PRASA will be ready to move football fans wherever they need to go well before the 2010 FIFA World Cup™'s first whistle sounds. PRASA's 13 000 employees are prepped and ready to welcome our visitors and treating football fans to the best possible service in our country.
Preparations
As part of PRASA's R25 billion transport upgrade plan, a substantial portion has already been spent on boosting train (Shosholoza Meyl, Metrorail), bus (Autopax: Translux and City-to-City) and other services ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Preparations include a total of 2000 revamped train coaches (104 train sets nationally over the last 3 years out of which, 65 train sets will be serving mostly the 2010 train services) and along with 155 new and refurbished buses.
Major train stations nationally have been upgraded to improve the overall travel experience such as Doornfontein, Nasrec, Rissik, Cape Town, Durban, Reunion and Orlando Stations, to mention a few. The upgrades aim to enhance the commuting experience through the improvement of the general physical environment, equipping stations with a modern Passenger information system that will be providing up - to-date information to travellers, safety and security – with the introduction of Railway Police - and hygiene of the stations.
Cutting-edge technology infrastructure upgrades forming part of the 2010 programme include the passenger information and communication system. So-called intelligent transport systems will manage congestion, incident response and travel demand. Integrated electronic ticketing will mean fans need to buy only one data-rich ticket that grants access to matches and public transport.
New generation stations built include those at Moses Mabhida (Durban), Rhodesfield (Johannesburg) and Windermere (Cape Town). The R140 million state-of-the-art Moses Mabhida station is adjacent to Durban's new stadium by the same name, within the King's Park precinct.
Our stations are less than five minutes walk away from the key stadiums and make it attractive for one to park their vehicle at home or designated Park ‘n Ride and get into the rail system to experience the South African public transport system. It is quicker to get to and from the stadium via the rail system. Public transport works, try it!
Train Service during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™
"Prasa, through its Rail Division Prasa Rail, will be running special commuters services through its Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl intercity services, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This is an additional special train service over and above the normal services provided and will be synchronised according to match schedules", says Prasa Rail Acting CEO, Tumisang Kgaboesele.
"Also, additional rail services will be scheduled to cope with the demand as government has promised that by 2010 there will be a train available every five minutes during peak times and train services running between 14 and 16 hours every day", added Kgaboesele.
Metro service
Metrorail Gauteng Region will be servicing a total of 12 routes or corridors, namely; Soccer City - 14 train sets, Ellis Park - 13 train sets; Loftus Versfeld - 14 train sets. To cope with anticipated high demand on certain parts of the rail network, additional Train Shuttles are also set to run to and from the following short routes between Stadium's; Pretoria Station to Rissik Station, Johannesburg Station to Nasrec Station, Westgate Station to Nasrec Station, Westgate Station to Doornfontein Station.
All stations used to ferry soccer fans will be open from 05h00 to 22h00 on match days while for late games, stations will be staffed until 24h00. Each Soccer train will be staffed with a team of 10 Ticket Officers, both to and from venue stations. In addition, one Inspector or Supervisor will be deployed on each Soccer train.
Mainline service
"Shosholoza Meyl, with an active coach fleet of 1223, already runs on 19 scheduled routes stopping at 95 stations, while Metrorail services 468 stations in Gauteng, Cape Town, Durban and the Eastern Cape. Autopax services 100 destinations nationwide", added Kgaboesele.
The regional and cross-border train services have been revised to coincide with matches in the various host cities, this also includes the scheduling of dedicated trains to service matches to and from outside the Gauteng Region. Customers will be able to choose between the various products such as the Tourist Class Train Service, Economy Train Service and Premier Class. The service will run from the following stations: Durban, Bloemfontein, Musina, Komatipoort, Rustenburg and Greenpoint and customers will then connect with the Metrorail Trains to take them to their respective games.
Security
Prasa in partnership with the Railway Police has taken steps to set up systems to provide adequate deployment of the Railway Police and Metrorail's own Protection Services personnel to ensure visibility and effective control of the rail environment throughout the world cup games. There will be presence of the security personnel on all trains, stations as well as the rail reserve.
Ready for action
The next stop in South Africa's incredible journey is one we're eagerly anticipating. As hosts of the greatest show of them all, all eyes will be upon this country as we welcome the world to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We can't wait to play our part in helping South Africa rise to this once-in-a-lifetime occasion!
The train services will be available free of charge to 2010 FIFA World Cup™ ticket holders on special dedicated trains.
For further information please visit www.PRASA.com or contact the PRASA call centre on 087 353 3970.