Gautrain Management Agency
Gautrain Management Agency
Gautrain is Africa's first world-class, modern mass rapid transit rail and bus service for Gauteng, a province regarded as the economic heartland of South Africa, which links Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport. It was built to relieve the traffic congestion in the Johannesburg–Pretoria traffic corridor and offer commuters a viable alternative to road transport, as Johannesburg has limited public transport infrastructure. The project was completed with the opening on 7 June 2012 of the final section between Rosebank and Johannesburg Park Station which had been delayed by problems with excess water seeping into the tunnel between the two stations.
Passenger transport for a country with a relatively low average household income, South Africa has a high rate of car ownership. For every 1000 people, there are 109 cars owned. This compares to 15 per 1000 in Lagos, 50 in Nairobi, and 500 in New York. Available statistics indicate that 80 per cent of South Africa’s population is totally dependent on public transport (bus, commuter rail and taxis) for its mobility needs.
The high car ownership rate means that 32% of commuters travel by private car. 25% travel by minibus taxi, 23% walk, 8% go by bus, and 6% by train. The remaining 6% travel by other means including bicycle and animal drawn vehicles.
One of the reasons for the high rate of private car ownership is the poor quality and high cost of public transport. Public transport has recently been described by the chairperson of the transport portfolio committee in parliament as being in a state of crisis. Train users complain bitterly about overcrowding and security issues, whereas bus users complain about the absence of facilities at bus stops and the infrequency of services at off peak times. Minibus taxi commuters complain about accidents, the un-roadworthiness of vehicles, and the absence of facilities at taxi ranks.
A third of all households spend more than 10%
Gautrain is Africa's first world-class, modern mass rapid transit rail and bus service for Gauteng, a province regarded as the economic heartland of South Africa, which links Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport. It was built to relieve the traffic congestion in the Johannesburg–Pretoria traffic corridor and offer commuters a viable alternative to road transport, as Johannesburg has limited public transport infrastructure. The project was completed with the opening on 7 June 2012 of the final section between Rosebank and Johannesburg Park Station which had been delayed by problems with excess water seeping into the tunnel between the two stations.
Passenger transport for a country with a relatively low average household income, South Africa has a high rate of car ownership. For every 1000 people, there are 109 cars owned. This compares to 15 per 1000 in Lagos, 50 in Nairobi, and 500 in New York. Available statistics indicate that 80 per cent of South Africa’s population is totally dependent on public transport (bus, commuter rail and taxis) for its mobility needs.
The high car ownership rate means that 32% of commuters travel by private car. 25% travel by minibus taxi, 23% walk, 8% go by bus, and 6% by train. The remaining 6% travel by other means including bicycle and animal drawn vehicles.
One of the reasons for the high rate of private car ownership is the poor quality and high cost of public transport. Public transport has recently been described by the chairperson of the transport portfolio committee in parliament as being in a state of crisis. Train users complain bitterly about overcrowding and security issues, whereas bus users complain about the absence of facilities at bus stops and the infrequency of services at off peak times. Minibus taxi commuters complain about accidents, the un-roadworthiness of vehicles, and the absence of facilities at taxi ranks.
A third of all households spend more than 10%