Referring particularly to the lower Gautrain passenger numbers during off-peak periods, Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said if businesses began to adopt a flexi-time approach, workers could travel to and from work during off-peak periods and utilise the concessions available during these times.
“South Africans are very rigid… but there are many examples in the world where people have flexi-time where some start earlier and others start later,” Vadi said.
“If somebody comes to work and leaves a bit later as long as they do their work, that’s great, but they can also take advantage of the concession prices.”
Vadi was speaking at the launch of a children’s book about the Gautrain, where he noted that at peak hours the Gautrain was almost fully subscribed, but off- peak ridership remained low.
The 27-page illustrated book, Thembi and Themba Ride the Gautrain, was aimed to promote reading and educate children about the Gautrain as a form of public transport.
However, in a further bid to improve Gautrain usage, Vadi said the provincial government wanted schools to begin organising excursions on the Gautrain.
Vadi said this would be a good source of revenue and would improve the Gautrain’s off-peak passenger numbers.
He added that Gautrain would be prepared to offer concessions for pupils. “I want to see this train come alive for our kids, so we would really encourage schools to see this as a point of an academic learning experience… it’s a practical thing and we are quite willing to support schools to facilitate that.”
However, Vadi said he was pleased with the Gautrain’s current passenger numbers which were increasing by about two percent per month, with 56 000 people using the Gautrain every day equating to 1.3 million passengers per month.
Plans to expand the Gautrain were also afoot.
“We are starting to do a feasibility study for the second phase of the Gautrain extension. It’s an East West link… we are saying it’s a link between OR Tambo Airport and Lanseria Airport.” The technical work and planning was underway and depending on the findings and outcomes of the feasibility, a decision on the future of the extension would be made next year, he said.
