Timing of train fare increase is questioned

COSATU Western Cape wants a meeting with Metrorail for an explanation about its train fare hike on June 1, while the Cape Chamber of Commerce has questioned Metrorail’s timing of the increase.

In an average 6 percent increase single trips cost 50c more, weekly tickets between R3 and R5 more and monthlies R7 to R22, Metrorail regional manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz announced yesterday.

Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said: “For some people a 6 percent increase may be affordable, but there are train commuters who are low earners and who may not be able to afford it. We will take this up with Metrorail.”

He was approached to confirm Swartz’s statement that Metrorail had informed business, labour and commuter groups about the increase.

“Yes they have advised us of their intention to increase fares, but we have not agreed to it,” Ehrenreich said.

Cape Chamber of Commerce executive Viola Manuel said: “Yes they (Metrorail) have notified us. We understand they have to increase fares and that many aspects of their service have improved. The big issue for us is the timing of the increase. It comes at a difficult time for commuters due to the bus strike.”

The chamber would ask Metrorail to postpone the fare hike until later in the year.

Swartz said a R600-million deficit on Metrorail’s books had made a fare increase unavoidable. He said Metrorail received a government subsidy of R600m, but that it had cost the company R1.2bn to operate trains in the province.

“Talking is good, but how am I going to cover the R600m shortfall and how are we going to finance security? We undertook not to have a double-digit increase like last year. We can’t have high levels of service without a marginal increase in fares,” Swartz said.

Electricity, staff and maintenance material contributed to the bulk of Metrorail’s expenses. “By clamping down on fare dodgers, closing stations and conducting special actions on trains we have managed to recover R160m more than the previous financial year, exceeding our revenue target by R8m,” he said.

Vandalism, which had already cost it about R96m over the last year remained a problem, but Metrorail had increased security which included 400 railway police officers and 800 security guards, he said.

Metrorail spent about R12m a month on security.

“The fare increase is propoor. We promised our commuters a single-digit increase in line with inflation.”