2020 2020

With effect from Monday 22 June to Tuesday 30 June 2020, Gautrain passengers can receive a R500.00 Gautrain card to and from OR Tambo International Airport from Sandton Station (T&C applies). This offer is in addition to the current free luggage wrapping service at Sandton Station and the free parking for rail users for the first 24-hours.

William Dachs, CEO Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), said "the entire Gautrain service is fully operational and we want to extend gratitude and a golden welcome to our airport service passengers by providing a R500.00 airport line Gautrain card to them. We urge our passengers to take advantage of this once-off offer. The well-being of passengers and staff remains a top priority for Gautrain and, as a result, there’s continuous monitoring, evaluation and implementation of various measures to ensure that travelling on the Gautrain is not only safe but convenient and efficient" Dachs concluded.

To take advantage of this travel offer the following terms and conditions apply:

• This R500 travel offer is for passengers travelling to and from Gautrain Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport stations only.
• Passengers travelling with luggage are urged to use the free luggage wrapping facility situated at Sandton station. All luggage has to be wrapped before checking it in or taking it onto a plane. So, getting it wrapped for free at the Sandton Gautrain Station will save you quite some money and time.
• Gautrain promoters will be available in the unpaid areas at Gautrain Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport stations. The promoters will provide passengers, who are in possession of valid travel documents, with a Gautrain card with R500.00 preloaded value. Passengers must please be on the lookout for them.
• Each passenger qualifies for 1 (one) Gautrain card with R500 preloaded value per valid airline ticket.
• Value on the preloaded card cannot be refunded, transferred, exchanged or sold.
• A passenger who wants to make use of the promotion and receive a preloaded Gautrain card to the value of R500 must submit the following:
• A form of identity (valid identity document, driver’s license or passport) together with name and contact details;
• Evidence of a valid airline ticket or boarding pass
• Passengers must kindly note that the current park for free promotion for rail users is for the first 24-hours only, thereafter standard parking fares apply.
• The use of face masks remains mandatory and all passengers and staff must wear face masks, whilst at stations and onboard trains, buses or midi-buses. For more information on detailed health and safety measures, please visit www.gautrainalerts.co.za.
• The GMA or any of its partners shall not, by virtue of this offer, attract any liability to any passenger or potential passenger that may elect to accept this special offer.
• By accepting the free travel offer and using it, passengers agree to be bound by the terms and conditions outlined above.

Other Gautrain measures aimed at enhancing Gautrain customer experience includes putting the annual fare increase on hold, the Service has implemented the park for free promotion for rail users for the first 24-hours only, adjusted the timetable and now it is providing free travel to airport passengers from Sandton station to OR Tambo international Airport between 22 – 30 June 2020.

The MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Mr. Jacob Mamabolo, today visited the Gautrain Airport service and OR Tambo Station ahead of the service’s commencement of operations on Monday, 15 June 2020. In accordance with the announcement by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Fikile Mbalula, Gautrain expanded its operations under the level 3 regulations and as of 1 June 2020, the operating hours for the train service were extended daily between 05:30 and 20:30. On the 15 June 2020, the Airport Service will be reopened.

MEC Mamabolo said, ‘’The purpose of today’s visit was to assess and evaluate the Covid-19 precautionary measures that are in place for travellers and commuters to the airport. I can confidently confirm that this service is ready to resume operations on 15 June 2020. Similar to the entire Gautrain service, there are visible markings, sanitisers and directional signages for passengers”.

MEC Mamabolo noted that ‘’Gautrain’s OR Tambo International Airport station is integrated into the airport which means there’s a seamless movement of passengers from the train to the airport. Once in the airport, precautionary measures are also in place for the benefit of passengers and travellers.

This demonstrates what intermodal integration can achieve. It is evident that both Gautrain Management Agency and Airport Company South Africa have worked together to ensure that passengers and travellers are safe”.

The use of face masks remains mandatory and all passengers and staff must wear a face mask whilst at stations and onboard trains, buses or midi-buses. For more information on detailed health and safety measures, please visit www.gautrainalerts.co.za/

On the 8 June 2010 at 05:24, the Gautrain took its first journey from its Sandton Station to the OR Tambo International Airport station. Even though that was the first commercial Gautrain service, many of the passengers on board knew that they will reach their destination on time. There was much excitement, South Africa’s first rapid rail airport service had been delivered and the face of public transport had been changed. After ten years of operation and close to 125 million train passenger trips and 38 million bus passenger trips, the Gautrain continues to offer a safe, reliable and convenient public transport service.

Since its inception, the Gautrain has changed the lives of many people in Gauteng through job creation and social investment, influencing their transport choices, reinforcing developmental notes, integrating regions and communities, and changing perceptions and attracting investment.

Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) CEO, William Dachs said “Gautrain is more than just a train, it is an economic infrastructure project that has contributed to Gauteng’s economy. For every R1 spent on Gautrain, R1.72 had been added to the Gauteng economy.”

The recent independent Hatch impact study concluded that, the Gautrain has continued to deliver jobs and investment in Gauteng. The commencement of operations in June 2010, saw Gautrain delivering:

• 10,900 direct jobs and around 61,000 through supply chain and wage spend
• R59million was spent on training by the Concessionaire to date
• 5,800 direct jobs for young people
• 93% of jobs are mid-level roles (NFQ 2-4) 7% are at the higher level (NFQ 4+)
• R20.4bn contribution to GDP over first 6 years.

"I would like to thank Gautrain’s staff who work tirelessly every day to ensure that we deliver excellence. Thank you to our stakeholders who are the focus of what we do and most importantly our passengers who have ensured that Gautrain is part of our African pride" Dachs continued.>

"Follow Gautrain’s social media platforms and join us as we take you down memory lane and reintroduce you to some of the heroes and highlights of our African pride" Dachs concluded.

Customer Care

Our Customer Care team remains available to assist with passenger queries. Our LiveChat platform, as well as social media pages also remain active and will be attended to by our Customer Care team.

We wish our passengers and all citizens of the world good health and strength over these challenging times.

In accordance with the announcement by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Fikile Mbalula, Gautrain will expand its operations under the level 3 regulations.

As of 1 June 2020, the operating hours for the train service will be extended and trains will operate daily between 05h30 and 20h30. The first trains to depart from end stations will be at 05h30 and the last trains to depart from these stations will be at 20h30. The end stations are Hatfield and Park stations on the north/south line and Sandton and Rhodesfield stations on the east/west line.

On weekdays, trains will operate at 15-minute intervals in the peak period and at 30-minute intervals in the off-peak period.

• The peak periods will be between 06h00 - 09h00 and 14h30 - 18h00.
• The off-peak periods will be between 09h00 - 14h30 and 18h00 - 20h30.

Weekend Train Service

On weekends and public holidays trains will operate at 30-minute intervals.

Airport Service

The Airport service remains suspended until further notice.

Bus and Midi-bus Service

We are pleased to advise that as of 1 June 2020, all Gautrain bus routes will be operated. We will continue to operate all midi-bus routes. Please note, there will be no bus or midi-bus service over weekends and public holidays until further notice.

The following bus routes have been temporary amended to service the hospitals listed below.

LINE	STATION	BUS ROUTE	HOSPITAL / MEDICAL CENTRE
NORTH-SOUTH LINE	Park	J1 – Parktown	Wits Donald Gordon Institute Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
	Pretoria	P3 - CBD	Zuid Afrikaanse Hospital Jacaranda Hospital Mediclinic Medforum Louis Pasteur Private Hospital
	Hatfield	H3 – Arcadia	Muelmed Mediclininc Mediclinic Heart Hospital Steve Biko Academic Hospital
EAST-WEST LINE	Rhodesfield	RF1 – Kempton Park CBD	Arwyp Medical Centre

Rail-users Park for Free

For a limited period and until further notice, all rail-users may park for free for the first 24-hours only. Thereafter standard parking fares will apply.

Health and safety measurements

The health and safety of our passengers and staff remains of paramount importance to us. We therefore continue to take the greatest care to ensure that health and safety measures at the Gautrain are not compromised. The use of face masks remains mandatory and all passengers and staff must wear a face mask whilst at stations and onboard trains, buses or midi-buses. For more information on detailed health and safety measures, please visit www.gautrainalerts.co.za/

Customer Care

Our Customer Care team remains available to assist with passenger queries. Our LiveChat platform, as well as social media pages also remain active and will be attended to by our Customer Care team.

We wish our passengers and all citizens of the world good health and strength over these challenging times.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown regulation and the current economic situation in South Africa, Gautrain today announced that its fares will not be increased in June this year, as would normally have been the case. In accordance with the Gautrain Concession Agreement, Gautrain fares are adjusted annually in the month of June. The annual fare increase is guided by the Consumer Price Index.

The Gautrain Management Agency and the Bombela Concession Company have decided not to increase fares in June 2020 but to instead delay this increase to later in the year once it has more accurate information of when the lockdown regulations will be lifted.

The Gautrain resumed a reduced service on 4 May 2020 after the system was closed during Level 5 of the national lockdown

On Monday, 04 May at 05h30, Gautrain will resume a reduced train and bus service after its services were suspended at the end of March due to the national lockdown. In keeping with Government regulations, trains will operate daily between 05h30 to 09h30 and 15h00 to 19h00 so that passengers will be able to return to their place of residence by 20:00. On Monday to Friday, trains will operate at 20-minute intervals and on weekends and public holidays, trains will operate at 30-minute intervals. The revised train and bus schedules will be available on the Gautrain website and app as of Sunday, 03 May.

The safety and wellbeing of our employees and passengers remain 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. Some of these measures are detailed below.

 

Health and Safety Measures

• The use of face masks will be mandatory on Gautrain. All passengers and staff must wear a face mask at all times whilst at stations and whilst onboard trains, buses or midi-buses. We have procured a batch of cloth face masks and will distribute these to customers free of charge. Stock is limited and we ask that passengers come prepared with their own face mask.

 

• Passengers are encouraged to apply social distancing measures at stations and onboard trains, buses and midi-buses. We have applied floor decals at the stations to assist passengers to keep clear distances from other passengers. These are spaced at least one meter apart from each other. Similarly, onboard trains, buses and midi-buses, certain seats have been cordoned off to allow for social distancing. Passengers must remain seated whilst onboard the train.  

 

• Trains, buses and midi-buses will be cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals throughout the day.  

 

• Special cleaning staff will be deployed at all stations to wipe-down and disinfect touchpoints, such as handrails.

 

• All customer-facing staff will be screened for COVID-19 ahead of resuming their normal duties on Monday, 04 May. Staff will be screened for fever throughout the day and have been asked to stay at home if they have any symptoms. Likewise, we appeal to our passengers to also stay at home if they are unwell.  

 

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been made available at all stations, and on buses.  

 

• Our staff will be wearing the respective personal protective equipment as stipulated by Government regulations.  

 

• Random screening of passengers will be conducted at stations in collaboration with the Department of Health field workers.

 

• We urge our employees and passengers alike to adhere to good hygiene practices and to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or alternatively to use an alcohol-base hand sanitizer. It is also vitally important that we all practice good cough and sneeze etiquette by covering our cough or sneeze with a bent elbow or tissue. Used tissues must be discarded off in the bins provided and hands must be washed or sanitized as soon as possible thereafter.

 

• We are in the process of procuring disinfecting spray booths which will be installed at the entrance to each station. Passengers will be required to walk through the spray booth before entering the station. The disinfectant spray is harmless and is just another way in which we hope to curb the spread of the virus.

 

Airport service

The Airport service will remain suspended until further notice. Passengers travelling on the East-West line must disembark the train at Rhodesfield station. Trains will then proceed to OR Tambo where it will be turned around before proceeding back to Rhodesfield station.

 

Gautrain Bus Services

A limited bus service will be available as from Monday. Buses will not operate over the weekends and on public holidays. The following bus routes will operate:

• H3 – Arcadia  

• P3 – Pretoria CBD  

• M3 – Sunninghill  

• S3 – Rivonia  

• S4 – Randburg  

• S5 – Fourways  

• J1 – Parktown  

• J2 – Johannesburg CBD  

• RF1 – Kempton Park CBD  

 

We have amended the following four bus routes so that it now stops at hospitals that are in close vicinity to the Gautrain alignment. By amending these bus routes, we are able to assist in transporting the medical services personnel working at these hospitals.

 

LINE	STATION	BUS ROUTE	HOSPITAL / MEDICAL CENTRE
NORTH-SOUTH LINE	Park	J1 – Parktown	Wits Donald Gordon Institute Charlotte Maxeke Hospital Park Lane Clinic
	Midrand	M3 - Sunninghill	Sunninghill Hospital
	Pretoria	P3 - CBD	Zuid Afrikaanse Hospital Jacaranda Hospital Mediclinic Medforum Louis Pasteur Private Hospital
	Hatfield	H3 – Arcadia	Pretoria Urology Hospital Muelmed Mediclininc Mediclinic Heart Hospital Steve Biko Academic Hospital
EAST-WEST LINE	Rhodesfield	RF1 – Kempton Park CBD	Arwyp Medical Centre

For detailed bus route information, visit Gautrain.co.za

 

Gautrain Midi-bus Service

All standard midi-bus routes will be operated, and midi-buses will be disinfected after each round trip. Midi-buses will not operate over weekends and on public holidays.

 

Customer care

The Gautrain Customer Care team will remain available to assist with customer queries. Our LiveChat platform, as well as, social media pages are active and will be attended to by our Customer Care team.

Finally, we wish to take this opportunity to thank our security, maintenance and operational personnel who have been working behind the scenes to help secure and maintain the Gautrain system during the national lockdown.

We also thank each and every essential services worker who has been working tirelessly since the start of the lockdown to help ensure that South Africa stays afloat during these challenging times. In particular, we extend our gratitude to all medical services personnel for their invaluable service rendered since the outbreak. As you continue your work at the forefront, may you remain safe and healthy.

To our valued passengers, we thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to being of service to you.

 

ENDS

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

Issued by Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company

 

For more information please contact

 

Barbara Jensen Vorster :

GMA Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing

barbaraj@Gautrain.co.za

 

Kesasagee Nayager :

Communication and Marketing Executive, Bombela Concession Company

kesagee.Nayager@Bombela.com

 

Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Gautrain

Website – www.gautrain.co.za

Call Centre – 0800 42887246

SMS alert line – 32693

The Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Mr. Jacob Mamabolo has announced the appointment of Mr. William Dachs as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA).

“After an exhaustive selection process, Mr. Dachs’s appointment was endorsed by the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Executive Council”, said the MEC. The MEC also stressed his confidence in Mr. Dachs’s abilities to lead the GMA to maintain and further the Agency’s excellent levels of governance, transformation and vision for improved mobility coupled with socio-economic development.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Mr. Dachs’s calibre and experience to lead the GMA,” said Mr. Mamabolo. “Public transport is at a critical moment and Gauteng needs efficient leadership to successfully implement the Gauteng Provincial Government’s strategy of “Growing Gauteng Together” – the Provincial growth development plan and roadmap to 2030.” Mr. Dachs has served as the Agency’s Chief Operating Officer since 2014 and prior to that as its Senior Executive Manager Technical Services.

Mr. Dachs is a Professional Engineer registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa and has degrees in Civil Engineering and Law. He has worked at the National Treasury and at the World Bank developing skills in infrastructure finance. Prior to joining National Treasury in 2000, he worked for ten years as a consulting civil engineer in transport and water related projects in South Africa.

This leadership appointment is effective 1 February 2020 during which Mr. Dachs will shadow outgoing CEO Mr. Jack van der Merwe for a month with the aim of a smooth transition.

Mamabolo has also announced the retirement of Mr. Jack van der Merwe as CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) effective 29 February 2020, after serving for 20 years as Gautrain Project Leader and Chief Executive Officer of the GMA. The MEC announced that Mr Van Der Merwe will continue to assist the Province in the other capacities such as interim CEO of the Gauteng Transport Authority to establish the Authority. Once established, the Gauteng Transport Authority will co-ordinate the planning, integration and enforcement of public transport operations in Gauteng such as the bus rapid transits, Metrorail, Gautrain and taxi services. The Authority is set to transform the current fragmentation of public transport governance and coordinate the management of public transport services.

“Mr van der Merwe has successfully led Gautrain and the GMA from its inception. Gautrain has changed the landscape of Gauteng and continues to make a significant impact on the Gauteng economy, its society and the mobility of its people,” said Mamabolo. Since commencing as the CEO of the GMA in 2009 Mr. Van der Merwe has established the Agency’s fundamentals of good governance – including eight clean audits. “Under his leadership, Mr. van der Merwe laid the foundation for a good future. He has earned the Gauteng Provincial Government’s unqualified gratitude,” remarked the MEC