City set to take over Metrorail passenger train service
AN INTEGRATED city public transport service is one step closer, with the City of Cape Town due to formally take over train services in the metro.
This is the next step towards Capetonians having one public transport system which is centrally co-ordinated, with common ticketing, timetabling and seamless connectivity.
The city said today it welcomed the announcement that Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele intends transferring control over Metrorail’s passenger rail services, from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to the council.
This announcement is seen as a crucial next step towards creating an integrated public transport system comprising passenger rail, the city’s bus rapid transit (Myciti), minibus taxis and non-motorised transport.
“We have been engaging with the national and provincial ministers on the matter for several months,” said mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater, Brett Herron.
He said Metrorail was regarded as the backbone of the public transport service and “it is extremely important for the city and for our residents that there is a substantial improvement in the quality, frequency, reliability and safety of this service”.
“It is also vitally important that we are able to implement our transport plan in an integrated way. The devolution of the rail subsidy to the city must come with full management authority, in order that the city can plan, manage and fund public transport,” Herron said.
The city approached the national minister of transport last year with a view to conducting a due diligence study of Metrorail and its operations in Cape Town.
The discussions were constructive, and in December, Ndebele indicated his support for the city’s proposal, the city said.
“We are now in the process of finalising the tender. We expect to advertise for the appointment of a team of experts who will conduct a thorough investigation.”
The city envisaged that a comprehensive study for integrated Metrorail services would be completed by November.