PRASA resumes its services for Pretoria- Kempton Park

The Pretoria to Kempton Park commuter rail service has resumed operations. Increasing the total number of lines recovered by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to 20.

Commuters can now reduce their travel expenses as a trip from Pretoria to Kempton Park only costs R9.50. Compared to R11.50 for a trip to Germiston and R8.50 for a trip to Olifanstfontein.

ALSO READ: PRASA spends R2.1 billion on rail recovery in Gauteng

“The resumption of this service takes us a step closer towards running the service between the three big metros in Gauteng. Soon, trains will be running from Pretoria to Ekurhuleni, and all the way to Johannesburg Park Station, reflecting the interconnectedness between our metros,” PRASA Group CEO, Hishaam Emeran, said.

WHEN WAS PRASA COMMERCIAL SERVICE RESUMED?

The commercial service was resumed on Thursday after receiving the required licence from the Railway Safety Regulator.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NozibusisoMazi1&dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1707450715994489051&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesouthafrican.com%2Fnews%2Fprasa-resumes-its-services-for-pretoria-kempton-park-29-september-2023%2F&sessionId=fc9fcfd7ccdd76deb4c6db31fb84ce4ba023f6b9&siteScreenName=TheSAnews&theme=light&widgetsVersion=aaf4084522e3a%3A1674595607486&width=500pxImage: Twitter@PRASA_Group

ALSO READ: MUST READ: PRASA prioritises full recovery of commuter services

The company launched the service with brand-new, high-tech trains from Pretoria to Kempton Park. With both peak and off-peak service available from Kempton Park to Germiston station.

It is anticipated that the accessible services will lessen the financial strain of commuting for commuters. Many of whom are from lower LSM groups and spend up to 40% of their family income on transportation.

ALSO READ: Cape Town man wins R3.5 million damages claim against PRASA

In its efforts to rehabilitate commuter rail corridors and move commuters on the new, blue, cutting-edge trains, Isitimela Sabantu, PRASA claimed that it has made progress.
In Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, trains are now running on 26 operable lines after 20 of the original 40 lines were recovered.

HOW MANY STATIONS HAVE BEEN RESTORED?

With 230 stations restored to their bare necessities, the organisation has made tremendous headway in restoring vandalized stations.

ALSO READ: PRASA pledges to fully restore Cape Town’s Central Line

“The number of reopened lines and those earmarked for reopening tells the story of solid progress in returning passenger rail to its rightful place as the future backbone of public transport. By the end of this financial year, PRASA will have recovered 80% of the passenger rail corridors and lines, while bringing to our people a modernized passenger train experience,” Emeran said.