Gautrain inspections under way
In order to ensure the health and safety of all staff and passengers, the Gautrain Management Agency has implemented a number of stringent safety measures.
Following the gradual resumption of transport services under level 4 of the national lockdown, Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula and Gauteng MEC of Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo this morning (4 May) inspected the Gautrain rail service.
The inspection started at the Hatfield Station in Pretoria.
Gauteng’s 80km railway system announced on 1 May that it will resume a “reduced train and bus service” on 4 May beginning at 5.30am, after its services were suspended at the end of March due to the national lockdown.
“The safety and wellbeing of our employees and passengers remains of paramount importance to us and we have therefore taken great care to implement numerous precautionary measures to ensure that we avoid the spread of Covid-19,” said Gautrain Management Agency spokesperson Barbara Jensen Vorster.
Team Gautrain making sure everything is ship-shape ahead of tomorrow's Gautrain reopening. Even our CEO and COO were at it to help place the social distancing decals on the floors! #GoTeam #SundayFeels pic.twitter.com/NjzQ7BcErj
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) May 3, 2020
These measures include the compulsory use of face masks, full body sanitisers and scanners, hand sanitisers and special decals to encourage social distancing at both the station as well as inside the buses and trains.
A full body sanitizer at all Gautrain Stations.
Another measure on top of others to protect our people against corona. #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/V5IB7ELQA4
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) May 4, 2020
The Department of Transport hopes to replicate these measures with the Western Cape’s Metrorail.
The group later moved to the Sandton Gautrain Station which, prior to the lockdown, connected over 20 000 people daily.
“I’m impressed by the work that management here has undertaken to adhere to our Transport Regulations,” Mbalula said while addressing the media in Sandton.
While the Gautrain’s airport service will remain suspended until further notice, Mbalula has extended his apologies on behalf of government to long distance travellers who may have been inconvenienced by law enforcement due to the curfew.
“I have been in communication with the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Minister of Police. We are looking at passing a directive soon that will enable long distance travellers to be accommodated,” Mbalula concluded.
As of today, Gautrain will resume a reduced a service. In keeping with Government regulations, trains will operate daily between 05h23 to 09h30 and 15h00 to 19h00. We have implement numerous precautionary measures to ensure that we work together to avoid the spread of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/Lyo0sCJ7Z4
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) May 4, 2020
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