Johannesburg - The days of spending long hours in public transport from Soweto to Johannesburg is now a thing of the past, thanks to the newly launched Rea Vaya bus system route.
Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Deputy Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga are set to unveil the City of Johannesburg’s new Rea Vaya bus system route this afternoon.
The event started with a visit to the Marcopolo bus depot in Germiston where the new Rea Vaya bus fleet was assembled.
The new route will run from Soweto and pass through Noordegesig, New Canada, Pennyville, Bosmont, Coronationville, Newclare, Westbury, Westdene, Melville, Auckland Park, Parktown and linking to the CBD.
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said the unveiling of the new route illustrated four stories that “go to the heart of government” -- the development agenda of infrastructure, integrated public transport system, industrialisation and environmental sustainability.
He said each of these stories also speak to the commitment of this administration to create more jobs and advance broad based development.
“We are currently building the system in the City of Joburg, Tshwane, eThekwini, Cape Town and Rustenburg and Nelson Mandela Bay.
“In the next five years, we will expand it to seven more cities - Mbombela, Mangaung, Buffalo City, Polokwane, Msunduzi, Ekurhuleni and George. The days of spending many hours in public transport must be a story of the past,” he said.
The extension of the bus transit route, which has the potential to carry 40 000 passengers daily, started in June 2013, and it is likely to be received with great excitement.
The faster, safer and cost-effective Rea Vaya bus service has been exceeding its daily target of transporting 80 000 passengers daily
The new services will be using 134 new buses that have been manufactured locally. Residents and students will be able to travel to universities and hospitals much easier with Rea Vaya.
Mercedes Benz CEO Dr Martin Zimmermann said: “We are very proud that the first buses are running and our international experience with the BRT system is quite extensive. Altogether, we have 17 000 of our buses that are running the BRT system around the world.” - SAnews.gov.za
