PRASA – BUSES FOR “THINNER” ROUTES

[Luca Lategan]

WHAT??? "self-funding by 2015" They must be totally mad! A public transport service can NEVER be self funding! Especially rail, not even the UK can get the service to be self funded, even when they are trying. The only way for it to be self funding is by increasing the ticket prices by like 500%, and they are never going to get past the Unions with that one...

PRASA – BUSES FOR “THINNER” ROUTES
By railwaysafricaeditor / November 12, 2010 / South Africa
Speaking to the press after it was disclosed on 24 October that Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) had agreed to work together to work out their differences, Prasa spokeswoman Nana Zenani said the agency would “stick to its plan to rationalise its route Network, to focus on high-density routes while serving the thinner routes with City-to-City and Translux buses.” The disclosure followed a meeting in Pretoria between transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele, public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan and senior executives from Transnet and Prasa.

Further discussions are to take place between Transnet and Prasa, to iron out differences on the settlement of R1.3bn that Prasa owes Transnet since the sale of Shosholoza Meyl last year. “The difference is that the talks will now take place in a constructive environment without the animosity that has characterised previous talks,” Ms Zenani said.

“It is our stated intention to become the number one public transport provider in SA as well as be self-funding by 2015,” she said. “Therefore we will focus our investment on the high-density routes.” Ms Zenani said that it was not a given that Transnet Rail Engineering would resume the maintenance of Prasa’s locomotives. ” We are going to be shopping around to find the best value for money,” Ms Zenani said.

[John Ashworth]

Amtrak in the USA seems to use buses on "thinner routes". I agree with Luca, though, that passenger rail is very rarely self-funding.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Yes but saves our roads and less road accidents.

[Luca Lategan]

EXACTLY! It's like saying road will be self funding by 2015! Just imagine what the increase in tax-on-petrol levies and other licensing costs would be!

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

There would be a Toll gate every 10km

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

One sitter train equals 15 buses