The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has introduced 17 new long-distance buses equipped with advanced safety technology to its City-to-City fleet, marking the first fleet acquisition of its kind since 2010.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced this during the launch of the new City-to-City fleet in Pretoria on Thursday, as part of October Transport Month, which is being observed under the theme: “Building a safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable transport system.”
Creecy said the acquisition of the new buses follows a difficult restructuring process within the long-distance bus operation, which involved management, organised labour, the PRASA Board and the shareholder, with sacrifices made by all parties.
“The operation is designed to run on a ring-fenced basis and to sustain itself financially. The new coaches carry advanced safety technology, including lane assistance, following-distance monitoring and stability systems.
“Drivers will be supported through monitoring and targeted training, and a control centre will oversee incidents en route. Over time, these services are intended to work alongside long-distance rail, offering families an affordable and dependable way to travel between cities, towns and rural communities.
“Whether on a suburban line or a long-distance route, our purpose remains the same: safe, reliable and affordable public transport that connects people to opportunity,” Creecy said.
A further 30 coaches are planned for the 2027/28 financial year, followed by 48 in 2028/29, bringing the total to 95 modern coaches. The fleet renewal programme is expected to be completed by 2030.
Meanwhile, PRASA has undertaken extensive efforts to revitalise and rebuild the country's passenger rail services.
These efforts have focused on restoring railway infrastructure, improving safety, upgrading signalling systems and enhancing the reliability of commuter services.
“Not only have we witnessed the rebuilding of rail within PRASA, but we have also seen significant progress within their Long-Distance Passenger Services as well as secondary mandate,” the Minister said. -SAnews.gov.za
