Modernisation of the public transport system in Gauteng will be the focus of transport month, Ismail Vadi, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport said at the inaugural Air-Rail Africa Conference.

The minister said “we cannot speak about modernising the public transport system without focusing on the modernisation of railways, particularly Metrorail,” as it was the prime, mass mover of commuters, servicing almost one million passengers a day.

Metrorail and Gautrain

Vadi described the Metrorail and Gautrain transport systems as “the backbone” of the public transport system in the Gauteng city-region. He explained that rail was affordable for commuters, helped restructure urban space, improved city sustainability and reduced travel and distance time.

25-Year Integrated Transport Master Plan

The ITMP25 introduced in 2013 aimed to provide a planning framework to assist the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and other provincial transport bodies to further develop the rail network.

Vadi said the department’s work over the next two years would focus strongly on these principal areas by:

• Manufacturing and buying of new stock to improve the Metrorail
• Rolling out a new signalling system
• Upgrading and renovating railways stations along its priority corridor
• Expanding Gautrain routes

Vadi said the department was confident that the modernisation of both transport systems will make a considerable difference “from private vehicle to public transport use, which in turn will help reduce traffic congestion, enhance efficiency and promote sustainability in the Gauteng city-region as a whole”.

The department also intends to establish a Transport Authority for the Gauteng city-region. Vadi said a Declaration of Intent supporting the establishment was signed between the Gauteng Premier and former mayors of all Gauteng municipalities.

Vadi highlighted other concerns that needed to be addressed, including how and when rail functions would be better coordinated and integrated, what possible relationship could exist between freight rail and commuter rail in Gauteng and how to ensure rail services could be efficient, reliable, clean, safe and affordable.

He said he hoped those in attendance at the conference would help derive the answers on ways to address those challenges as well as a wider range of issues including a review of air-rail projects in Africa, high-speed electric trains, financing for air-rail projects and socio-economic development imperatives for linking airports and city centres, among others.