According to a South African Press Association (Sapa) report dated 15 February, “Cape Town has been chosen as the pilot area for a proposed integrated public transport system, to be controlled by municipalities.” It attributed the statement to the national Department of Transport, quoting director-general George Mahlalela saying: “The City of Cape Town has indicated (it is) prepared to be used as a pilot area and the city must now do a feasibility study.”
On 13 February, Cape Town city councillor Brett Herron was quoted saying that transport minister Sbu Ndebele “intends transferring control over Metrorail’s passenger rail services from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to the council.”
Deputy transport minister Jeremy Cronin was quoted by Sapa saying the government wants cities to develop a comprehensive transport system, taking into account buses, trains, minibus taxis and other means of transport. “Thus far, Cape Town and Durban’s systems look as though they would be the easiest to transfer from Metrorail to city authorities.” The government is still discussing the financial and logistical details with Prasa, Cronin told Sapa.
[On 17 February, Metrorail’s regional management in Cape Town issued a statement saying there is no intention to transfer the control of local trains to the city, adding that this “will never happen”. – editor: Railways Africa.
Original article [Railways Africa]
