Gautrain's plan to fix decline

Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

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Gautrain's plan to fix decline

The Gautrain plans to address its declining ridership by identifying underserved customer groups and adapting its products and services to make its offering accessible to more travellers.

This new plan follows the revelation that the Gautrain has lost over five million passengers in the past four years.
 
I like the train, actually I am a big fan of the train. But getting to and from the station is the real problem.

The stations are in the busiest parts of each town, so getting there by car is troublesome.

For me to go to Boksburg, I have to uber (R60) from my house pay take the train to Rhodesfield (R84) and uber to boksburg (R60-80). And if I do this with luggage people look at me funny as if I am trying to skip the airport fee.

Also I would have appreciated a monthly card that isn’t stationed locked or maybe say for the 22 day one between stations you get unlimited off peak trips for free or something like that.

Also the shuttle network needs espanding and shouldn’t be in the same traffic as the other cars.
 
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TEXTILE GUY said:
How much does a trip cost. if you dont mind me asking?
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The bus is R13 and the most expensive one way trip is R99. The most expensive monthly is R3197 and weekly is R916.

This is also of its weaker points. The fees structure is also too big a table trying to look it up. Zonal pricing might be easier I think.
 
Just make it a flat rate, doesn't matter if it's only one or 10 stations....
This worked well in Turkey back in 2017
Also the same card could be used for all forms of transport - bus, rail, tram, subway etc

Also don't charge us R10 for a new card cos the old one expires

Stay open later (2am) for weekends and sports events/concerts so we can do Pta/jhb and a have an evening out without worrying about transport back. Make this off peak super cheap and people will start using it.
 
Wasn't there once a SOE called PRASA, that provided an urban passenger rail service called Metrorail, for the 'lower income bracket' commuters, at some distant time in the past?

OH WAIT! The cANCer derailed that service through mismanagement and corruption & the peasants stole all the railway lines & signalling cables and vandalised / destroyed all the stations along the routes.
 
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phoneJunky said:
I like the train, actually I am a big fan of the train. But getting to and from the station is the real problem.

The stations are in the busiest parts of each town, so getting there by car is troublesome.

For me to go to Boksburg, I have to uber (R60) from my house pay take the train to Rhodesfield (R84) and uber to boksburg (R60-80). And if I do this with luggage people look at me funny as if I am trying to skip the airport fee.

Also I would have appreciated a monthly card that isn’t stationed locked or maybe say for the 22 day one between stations you get unlimited off peak trips for free or something like that.

Also the shuttle network needs espanding and shouldn’t be in the same traffic as the other cars.
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I think this is the Gautrain's way of discouraging you from going to Boksburg.

Just another way that Gautrain serves its community and keeps people safe.
 
If you build it they will come.
I think it's a catch-22 situation. The ridership isn't quite there yet because Gautrain isn't available everywhere and the route isn't being expanded as quickly because the ridership isn't there yet.
If they follow through with the new routes however slowly they should see improving numbers. Also they have to increase frequency and for goodness sake not have the last train go/come from OR Tambo at 21:30...it's quite pointless if you have a late flight or arrive late...then what?
 
mypetcow said:
If you build it they will come.
I think it's a catch-22 situation. The ridership isn't quite there yet because Gautrain isn't available everywhere and the route isn't being expanded as quickly because the ridership isn't there yet.
If they follow through with the new routes however slowly they should see improving numbers. Also they have to increase frequency and for goodness sake not have the last train go/come from OR Tambo at 21:30...it's quite pointless if you have a late flight or arrive late...then what?
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I do agree with this, but they did already have ridership numbers close to where they wanted it to be pre pandemic.

I think the pandemic put more people off from public transport. Will take some time to get those people back. See how the cinemas are also not back at pre pandemic levels globally
 
They sent out and discussed the issues with all the other rail providers and agencies and the anc say they are in line with the rest of the market.
 
Hemi300c said:
They sent out and discussed the issues with all the other rail providers and agencies and the anc say they are in line with the rest of the market.
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Which just really means a third world dust-bowl is charging what first world countries are charging.
 
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Bad Ballie said:
Which just really just means a third world dust-bowl is charging what first world countries are charging.
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They are charging less than Europe, but way more than Dubai. And Dubai is economically viable, in part because they are cheaper ai think.
 
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