Gautrain upgrade has one big problem
The current expansion plan for the Gautrain passenger rail service will neglect those who need effective public transport the most, the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has warned.
The AA has long been critical of the Gautrain running at a loss while being subsidised with around R2.5 billion in taxpayer funding annually.
In its submission on the Gautrain expansion plans in 2021, the association said that an expensive expansion could not be justified.
“The Gautrain has no prospect of being able to provide provincial-scale mass transit at a reasonable cost,” the AA said.
“The system overall lacks the flexibility to respond to changing economic and spatial development patterns.”
The AA proposed that investing in a provincial-scale bus system instead of the Gautrain expansion would be the best way to improve public transport in the province.
The AA has been especially critical of the Gautrain’s pricing, which puts it out of reach for most of the province’s commuters, and its Patronage Guarantee subsidising travelling costs for the privileged.
It argues that the vast majority of Gautrain users already have cars for commuting and are using the service due to its convenience, not out of need.
The high prices also contribute to the Gautrain not operating anywhere near its capacity. Before the system was launched, it was envisioned that 130,000 riders would use the Gautrain daily.
That goal is still many years away, as peak usage has only reached a third of that number, and annual growth is at 5%.
Despite adding to the country’s tax burden and serving only a select portion of the population, the government plans to spend at least another R120 billion on the network expansion.
AA spokesperson Eleanor Mavimbela told MyBroadband that expanding the system without addressing its existing structural gaps risked deepening mobility inequality.
“The Gautrain remains a premium service in a country with an urgent need for reliable, affordable, mass transport,” Mavimbela said.
“The ultimate goal should be a balanced, multimodal transport system that enables economic participation and mobility for all — not just for a privileged few.”
Investments in bus networks and taxi ranks
Mavimbela highlighted three key areas to make the Gautrain more inclusive and integrated:
- Revising the fare structure to improve affordability.
- Enhancing integration with minibus taxis, buses, and other modes of public transport.
- Rethinking expansion plans to prioritise underserved and high-demand areas.
“While the AA supports continued investment in transport infrastructure, we believe the current priority should be improving and repairing the existing rail network — such as PRASA and Metrorail,” Mavimbela said.
In addition, the AA would rather see investments in taxi ranks, enhancing commuter safety, and strengthening first- and last-mile connectivity for better integration with the Gautrain.
“These initiatives would yield more immediate and widespread benefits for the majority of daily commuters,” Mavimbela said.
“Transport equity is a critical enabler of economic growth and social mobility. Public funds should prioritise solutions that serve the majority.”
Cheaper tickets welcomed — but even greater access needed
The Gautrain recently launched 50% discounted KlevaMova tickets for households earning less than R350,000 annually, the elderly, disabled people, and school-going children.
The AA said that although KlevaMova was a welcome innovation, it did not truly address the core issue of affordability.
“Gautrain fares remain prohibitively expensive for many South Africans, even with promotional offers or digital enhancements,” the AA said.
“Without a fundamental restructuring of fares or targeted subsidies for low-income commuters, products like KlevaMova will have limited impact on overall accessibility.”
Fares may undergo more radical changes in 2026, when the contract with the current concession operator expires and the service is handed over to the Gauteng Provincial Government.
Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tabela recently told the SABC that the province planned to make the service more affordable when this happens.
“We decided to ensure accessibility to the Gautrain — this is one of the assets that the people of Gauteng will be inheriting in March 2026,” said Diale-Tabela.
“Using the Gautrain has been a challenge to ordinary people in our province, but also challenges that come with household income, where people spend more money on transport to work.”
However, Gautrain chief operating officer Victor Shange previously told MyBroadband that the service’s “premium” fares would “always” exist and only “targeted” users would enjoy reduced prices.
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