PRASA long-distance trains: How much are tickets?

We reported last week on the resumption of long-distance trains in South Africa. After a two-year hiatus, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has brought back its long-distance train services between Johannesburg and Cape Town and Durban.

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Bizarrely, however, rather than repair all its equipment, PRASA long-distance trains were rushed back into operation for the December holidays, reports TopAuto. That’s because the agency sees these long-haul corridors as a more affordable alternative than busses and taxis.

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PRASA LONG-DISTANCE TRAINS

So, how much are PRASA long-distance trains for the holidays? Click HERE to check all the available routes and prices. Andiswa Makanda from PRASA said in a recent interview that trains will run once per week during the December and January festive season.

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We wanted to check how much one of the PRASA long-distance trains – the Shosholoza Meyl – will cost over December and here’s what the website says:

Although, we would urge users to expect longer times that even those. This is due to stations and railway lines potentially being vandalised and/or cable theft.

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According to the PRASA spokesperson, there are dining and entertainment coaches to keep passengers busy during the hours of travel. Frequency of trips on major routes will increase as the once-dilapidated coaches start returning from their ‘general overhaul program,’ Makanda said.

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PRASA says it has upgraded its infrastructure and services inline the latest Railway Safety Regulator standards. 286 Peace Officers have also been employed to keep law and order on the PRASA long-distance trains. There is also platform marshalling and CCTV monitoring stations along the routes.

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Would you consider PRASA long-distance trains for the December holidays? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.