As part of Transport Month, PRASA Regional Manager, Raymond Maseko, and Provincial MEC for Mobility, Minister Isaac Sileku, joined commuters on Monday morning for a train trip from Fish Hoek to Cape Town.
During the trip, Minister Sileku engaged with commuters asking for their opinions regarding the train service and gaining insight into the daily struggles commuters have. They also handed out weekly tickets to new commuters and those who were traveling on a single ticket. One of the lucky recipients was a commuter who was starting work this week.
In Cape Town the daily number of passenger trips has been increasing following the restoration of key rail corridors after shutdowns during Covid-19.
The Central Line, which connects communities like Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to the Cape Town and Bellville central business districts, currently accounts for 30,000 daily passenger trips. At full capacity, this line is expected to contribute around 350,000 daily trips, forming a significant part of the city's 685,900 daily rail passenger trips.
Minister Sileku shared his vision for the ongoing improvements for public transport within the Western Cape. As part of this public transport network, he sees PRASA and the rail service as the backbone of public transport within Cape Town.
The journey to and from work for many commuters is long and requires multiple transport modalities. He envisions a train service that is at least as regular as pre COVID if not even better. If these improvements can be made to the train service and it can be reliable then it should allow those same commuters to be able to spend more time with their families at home..
During the trip the Minister got to see first hand the challenges faced by many commuters, especially with regard to overcrowding of trains during the peak hours.
This initiative was part of the shared commitment to restoring public confidence in the rail service, and ensuring a reliable and safe journey for all commuters. The Minister and the Regional Manager both see the train service as a way to relieve traffic on our congested roads in the Western Cape as well as ensuring safe and reliable commuting for all members of the Western Cape.
