Local Trains and World Cup transport

[John Ashworth]

Local Trains a New Experience for Longtime Johannesburg Residents

Parke Brewer | Johannesburg 29 June 2010
Voice of America

With thousands of fans making their way to stadiums for World Cup matches, organizers in South Africa continue to encourage fans to use public transportation to avoid traffic problems and lengthy delays.

Johannesburg is unique at the 2010 World Cup in that it is the only one of the nine host cities that is staging games in two different stadiums. It is the largest city in South Africa, with a population of about 7 million, including its suburbs.

The older downtown stadium, Ellis Park, seats about 62,000, while the new Soccer City Stadium in the suburbs, where the final will be played, is much larger, holding about 90,000 fans. Like any big sporting event, it is always a challenge to get fans in and out of the stadiums in an orderly and efficient manner.

South African World Cup organizers have been asking everyone to allow plenty of time and, if possible, take public transportation to prevent huge traffic jams and avoid the missing kick-offs.

Johannesburg resident Guy Williams said it has taken a different mindset for the locals.

"I think people have gotten the message now; 'Leave early, get there early.' As South Africans we're used to going very, very late and arriving basically at kick-off time," said Williams. "And this going early is a bit alien to what we're used to, so I think the message has gotten through."

Williams is from Liverpool, England, but has lived and worked in Johannesburg for 33 years. Neither he nor his South African wife Sheryl, had ever ridden a local train until this World Cup. They decided to ride it to Soccer City Stadium.

"We were advised by lots of people that the only way to go to the event was to go by train, because the parking facilities close to the stadium were a bit of a mess," added Williams. "And the park-and-ride facilities and the buses were busy, and the train was going to be the easiest, most convenient route. And so it's worked out so far."

His wife Sheryl agreed.

"It's great! It's fantastic! It's got a vibe and it's great to do," she said.

And so why haven't Guy and Sheryl ridden the locals rails before now? He says they are like nearly all citizens in the country who own cars.

"Security issues. We are very concerned about public transport in South Africa. Public transport is not the norm. People don't think in terms of public transport. It's your motorcar first, your motorcar second, and public transport is not something we ever consider using," he explained.

Guy Williams said it is not a black and white issue. He attended a match in Pretoria with a friend who is black. Williams suggested they drive to the park-and-ride facility and take the bus to the stadium.

"And he said, 'Absolutely not. I've got a motorcar, and I will use my motorcar,'" he said. "'The poor people of South Africa can use public transport. I will not!' he said, 'We have motorcars, we use them. If we don't have motorcars, we use public transport,'" recalled Williams.

Williams has enjoyed the matches he has attended and shared some of his thoughts on how things might be in South Africa once the World Cup is over and all the visitors have left.

"I think most of us, in the back of our mind, have got this issue about what is the legacy going to be and what it's going to cost us and how we're going to pay for it over time," he said. "But certainly in the short term, we're prepared to forget all about that and have a good time and make sure our visitors have got unbelievable hospitality, looking after our visitors, making sure they have a great experience. And certainly in terms of nation-building, this is crucially important."

Williams added that from all his fellow South Africans he has spoken to, the World Cup has been a bonding experience, and they all hope the foreigners who have come to take in the games and the culture will be glad they traveled here.

"It's real people who are spending their own money. And have they had a good time? And what are they going to go and say when they meet their friends and family and workmates when they go home? What are they going to say about South Africa? And it's a common theme for all of us - black, whites, colored, Indian in South Africa - that we want everybody to go back and tell them we're actually okay, and it's a great place to visit, and they've enjoyed themselves," he added.

And Guy Williams might even suggest they try riding the local trains.

[Luca Lategan]

Although the Metrorail service in the Cape is top notch 99% of the time, many a Cape Town resident still feel that it is 'unsafe' for some stupid reason. The World Cup and associated "Fanjols" did how ever lead to many locals taking the train, some for the first time in decades, for others it was a completely new experience. For many the idea of a starting 1 hour 20 minute ride was too much and they drove to the brand spanking new Century City station (that looks like an upgrade to a Gautrain station) and took the train from there. Judging from the Facebook status updates and other conversations, Metrorail certainly have some new fans!

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

My son's attended a few games and the fan park. Each time they used the Century City set up and were both impressed. Neither of them have used public transport in their lives as they went to school around the corner from our house. I just wish we could get some new rolling stock. Watching the Metro's rumble past N1 City, strange noises come from some of the driving and trailing coaches. The stock also looks tatty from the exterior. If they have big rugby matches at Green Point I would certainly use this mode of transport. Unfortunately there is no direct link from this line to Newlands. The train would have to back and forth to get on to the correct line.

[Dylan Knott]

Stefan. Yes Metrorail is in urgent need of new rolling stock. The 5M2A stock was built in the 1960's and is showing its age. We found the coaches we travelled in to CT were also tatty. Although u could walk between the coaches if need be. One serious flaw is there was no toilet on the train. This is essential for any train!

Now if more of the 10M's could be placed in service we could encourage more ppl to take the train.

1h 20 min is nothing as you spend the same amount of time in heavy traffic!

As for Newlands its perfectly ok to disembark at CT and then walk to another platform for the next train. CT station is awsum!

[Luca Lategan]

Have a look at the post I made here about the future of passenger rail.

...The suburban train of the future will have little that is luxurious about it. It will be designed to accommodate as many passengers as possible, mostly standing...

Don't get your hopes up for that toilets, Dylan ;-)

[Dylan Knott]

Thats fine but faster trains are required.
Having said that I dont mind paying more to travel on the express train!
A low cost train service is required to compete with metrorail. This will work!

[Craig Duckham]

What do you mean by compete?

[Dylan Knott]

When SAA had the monopoly of aircraft and flying routes around SA, people did not expect a low cost airline such as Kulula or 1time to make it in the industry.

Metrorail does not have any rail competitor. If it were possible a low cost train service should be able to compete with them.

[Marc Russell]

MetroRail is a low cost train operator!! Public transport is best operated by one operator, e.g. MTA in New York or TfL in London. Although private companies are involved in operation and ownership they are controlled by the city in which they operate. However we are starting to see segregation of public transoprt in Joburg. If Metrobus, BRT, MetroRail, Gautrain and PUTCO were all controlled by the city, transfers and ticketing could become seemless.

[Dylan Knott]

Its still government controlled.
A safer more reliable transport company would work even if more expensive.

[Marc Russell]

As public transport should be. I can't think of a city in the world that has it's public transport owned and operated by a private company. When Melbourne was for sale many years ago it's public transport was eventually run into the ground by various private French companies, whose main interest was profit. A change of government has re-nationalised the Victorian rail carrier (V-Line) and the people of Victoria are now seeing real investment in public transport.
The South African government has invested heavily in public transport and is reaping the rewards. More work is required, especially in convincing people to use it!!

[Dylan Knott]

You are right.

However, safety and reliability are to factors that need to be considered. Out of date rolling stock doesn't help either. Personally, I think once all 5M2A stock have been rebuilt into 10M stock the problem may be relieved a bit. It also would not kill their profit to install at least one toilet per three coaches or whatever.

[Marc Russell]

From my understanding MetroRail are undertaking a massive refurbishment of it's current 5M2A fleet, of course this will take time. But yes once the older rolling stock is removed, reliability and punctuality should improve leading to less delays and hopefully less burning of trains!!!
All interurban trains in Sydney have toilets, two toilets for every four car set. However such is the condition of them you wonder why they have them at all.