By bus and train, between cities
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16 July 2012
Getting from Soweto to Pretoria in double quick time can be done. Take a Rea Vaya bus, change to a Gautrain at Park Station, and shoot off to another city.
The Gautrain Station at Park Station is a just few metres from a Rea Vaya bus station
OMMUTERS from Soweto can take a Rea Vaya bus from Thokoza Park, change to a Gautrain at Park Station in downtown Joburg and either go to OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni, Joburg’s northern suburbs or all the way to Hatfield in Pretoria – in one single trip.
The services are fully integrated and appear to have been well met by users – both are oversubscribed during morning and afternoon peak hours. Rea Vaya buses start operating at 4.50am weekly and run until 9pm, while the Gautrain travels between Johannesburg, the airport and Pretoria from 5.30am to 8.30pm, with a 12-minute interval between trains.
It takes about 30 minutes for a Rea Vaya bus to travel between Soweto and Johannesburg, using designated bus lanes. The buses are energy efficient and run at regular intervals, ensuring efficient mobility, less traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions. A single, brisk trip costs about R8.50.
The City will soon be implementing a smart card ticketing system that will allow commuters to load credit on their travel card and swipe it at bus stations to get through automated electronic gates to catch a bus.
Construction of Rea Vaya’s Phase 1B is at an advanced stage and the second trunk route, running from Noodgesig in Soweto to Parktown, through Braamfontein and on to the central business district, is complete and the buses should be running along it by April next year.
Protea North resident Lunga Ndlozi, who goes to Hoërskool Vorentoe, says Rea Vaya is an affordable and convenient transport alternative. “Rea Vaya makes my travel time shorter, so this means that I get home earlier than usual and even wake up later than I used to because the travel time is shorter,” she says.
Another commuter, Mlungisi Daba, uses Rea Vaya daily. “I think it is a better option.”
Rea Vaya is a key component of the City’s public transport agenda. It has been set up to curb carbon emissions, cut traffic volumes, decrease gridlock, reduce travel time, and integrate Joburg’s transport systems.
It has world-class infrastructure design and technology. The bus stations have ventilated roofs, engraved artworks and wheel-chair friendly access, among other features. With Rea Vaya, the City of Joburg has worked to redress past social disparities between the affluent and the destitute.
A Gautrain trip from Park Station to the airport will set you back R136, while a single trip from the airport to Pretoria costs about R135 and takes about 40 minutes because you need to wait for a connecting train. The train is fast and efficient, taking only 14 minutes to get to the airport from Park Station.
The train travels underground from Park Station to Marlboro Station; from the latter, it journeys above ground on towering viaducts. Its big picture windows offer panoramic views of the countryside.
The trip from Pretoria to Joburg takes about 34 minutes and costs R46 from Bosman Station.
Once they’ve bought their tickets, commuters are directed to the electronic gates to swipe their Gautrain Gold Card. The gate unlocks, simultaneously alerting you to how much you’ve got left on your card. Directional signage points you to the underground platforms, from where the rapid train departs.
The card works like a wallet, carrying points. You pay a once-off fee of R11 when you buy one. The Gautrain has supplementary services, including park and ride facilities, a dedicated bus system, car rental services and a retail kiosk at all stations except OR Tambo, including other amenities.
An integrated public transport network linking three Gauteng municipalities not only improves synergies between cities, but also helps to speed up travel times on public transport and improve the lives of commuters.
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