Prasa Launches New Orlando Station

10 June 2010

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ National Supporter Shows it’s Ready for Kickoff

Johannesburg, South Africa. PRASA - Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa - has officially opened Soweto’s revamped Orlando Station ahead of tonight’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Kickoff Celebration Concert. The station will not only serve as a convenient route for passengers, but is ideally situated close to Orlando Stadium, making it easy for people to attend sporting and entertainment events using the train.

The launch of the newly refurbished Orlando Station comes on the back of the successful transporting scores of Rugby fan to the rugby semi-finals and finals. This demonstrated PRASA’s readiness to move football fans during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup to the three host stadiums, Soccer City, Ellispark Stadium and Loftus Versveld.

“The rugby fans not only got to the game on time, but the feedback we’ve received indicates they also enjoyed the experience they as well as our newly refurbished trains. Now with the completion of Orlando Station, we can enhance our passengers travelling experience by combining travel comfort and state of the art stations. Orlando Station has world-class facilities to better cater for our customers,” said PRASA Group CEO Lucky Montana.

Montana was joined by dignitaries including Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele, Chairman of the PRASA Board Sfiso Buthelezi, Gauteng MEC of Transport, Mr Bheki Nkosi, Transport Director-General, Mr. George Mahlalela, and MMC for Transport, Ms Riana Moosajee at the launch, having travelled to Soweto using the Soweto Business Express Train, one of the rail passenger services offered by Metrorail, a division of Prasa.

The R67 million station refurbishment has totally transformed one of Soweto’s oldest landmarks. “Similar to the Doornfontein Station complex, we set out to create a modern environment for this gateway to Soweto. Our vision was to create a safe and secure, vibrant first-stop that helps promote Orlando as an attractive and sustainable destination for sports and recreation,” he said.

An official National Supporter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, PRASA is ready to transport around a third of the capacity of each stadium on match days. That’s around 30 000 fans for Johannesburg’s Soccer City alone that will be moved through the new Nasrec Station.

"The work done on this ultra modern station and the improvements made to others on the network heralds a new era in public transport in South Africa that we’re extremely proud of,” said Montana. "These stations have been designed to support venues for matches, training and fan parks, but we believe they’re also part of a legacy that will benefit the country well beyond 2010.”

The new station features among others:

• Super-wide platforms (9m) with 3m wide staircases – the platforms have also been raised to allow commuters to alight trains easily;
• Wide entrance ramps and lifts for passengers with special needs;
• Integrated Control System allows train arrivals/ departures to be monitored via Internet;
• Station Access control is governed by high-tech speed gates linked to CCTV.Also, the main concourse leads directly from the station along an adjoining path to the road leading to the nearby Bus Rapid Transit station, firmly establishing the Station at the centre of a transport node that’s designed to serve Soweto residents as the area develops in the future.

As National Supporter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, PRASA has spent a total of around R1.9 billion on improving its facilities and operations ahead of the event.

New stations include Durban’s R140 million Moses Mabhida Station and the R58 million Century City Station launched in Cape Town this week. At the same time, refurbishments of stations across the country have focused on renovating ticket offices and public toilets, building new paraplegic toilets, painting all buildings, fencing, resurfacing platforms, installing new station signage and upgrading station lights and public address systems.

Refurbished stations include:

• Cape Town, (R418 mil)
• Langlaagte, New Canada and Nasrec Stations (R90 mil)
• Ellis Park and Doornfontein (R77 mil)
• Loftus and Belle Ombre Stations (R20 mil)
• Reunion (R6 mil)
• Durban Kwa-Mnyandu and KwaMashu Stations (R50 mil)
• North End (R16 mil)

A further R263 million has been spent on the Nasrec Rail Service Link to Ellis Park and Soccer City.

Modern developments epitomise the revolutionary work undertaken at stations across the country, the result of which Montana says he believes will instil a renewed sense of pride and practicality to South Africa. “An entirely new and aesthetically-pleasing design has been applied to the key stations, creating a safe and satisfying transport hub for all to enjoy,” said Montana.

A further R100 million has been invested in integrating Rhodesfield Station adjacent to OR Tambo International Airport with the Gautrain Rhodesfield Station.

Cutting-edge technology infrastructure upgrades amounting to R140 million include the passenger information and communication system at key stations. Also, intelligent transport systems will manage congestion, incident response and travel demand.

Safety and security

PRASA has spent over R160 million in re-establishing the Railway Police. Backed by the South African Police Services, there will be more visible policing on trains and at stations, as well as mobile police stations equipped with holding cells, trauma units and community centres. Also, extra PRASA security personnel will be provided on trains and at stations for fans travelling to each game.

Way finding system

“It’s practically impossible to get lost at our stations, thanks to the new universal way finding system we’ve implemented,” he says. The highly visible, easy to understand signs direct commuters wherever they need to go around the station precinct, from finding information and the correct platform to locating various facilities, transport connections and exits.

“We’ll know we’ve done our job when fans step off our trains with a smile, take advantage of all the wonderful facilities at our stations and enjoy a gentle, five-minute stroll to their seats in the stadium, refreshed and energised,” concludes Montana. “We just can’t wait!”

Bookings/ info: 087 353 3970 ; Metrorail; Shosholoza Meyl

HOW TO GET TO THE GAME BY TRAIN: IT’S AS EASY AS 1-2-3!

Call 087 353 3970 to book your ticket to the host city of your choice. (Shosholoza Meyl trains arrive in host cities 4 hours before kick-off.)

Grab your 2010 FIFA World Cup™ ticket and travel FREE with Metrorail to and from Stations in the vicinity of the stadium. Enjoy the ride!

Freshen up at the Station, grab a drink and something to eat and take an easy walk to the stadium!

WALK FROM EACH STATION TO STADIUM IN UNDER 5 MINUTES!

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