Vancouver Transit Use Boosted During Winter Olympics

The city of Vancouver saw large jumps in transit use during the 2010 Winter Olympics, according to a new report. However, the jumps are mainly due to increased service during the games.

The Host City Olympic Transportation Plan Downtown Monitoring Study looked at how people got around during the February 12-28 Winter Games, and compared the findings to previous transportation monitoring efforts conducted by the City of Vancouver and its partners. On an average Olympic Games weekday there were approximately 1.17 million trips into or out of the downtown Vancouver peninsula – close to 44 per cent higher than the pre-Games weekday average of 813,000 person-trips.

City of Vancouver sets transportation records during 2010 Winter Games: UBC study
Eureka Alert
November 23, 2010

Johannesburg's World Cup in Numbers

This piece from Sport 24 offers a few facts and figures from Johannesburg's hosting of the World Cup.

- Eighty-eight informal traders were registered to provide food to staff and volunteers.

- A total of 1 042 160 people attended matches in Johannesburg.

- Of those, 479 517 used public transport.

Joburg Cup in numbers
Sport 24
July 15, 2010

Brazil Eyes High Speed Rail Line

The Brazilian government is planning to build a high speed rail line to connect Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, its two largest cities. Construction of the line is not likely to be complete by 2014 when the country hosts the World Cup, but will probably be operational in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The government will auction the concession for building the line this December.

The tender offer projects a total cost if 34.6 billion Brazilian reals ($19.5 billion) for the bullet train. Of this, BRL20 billion in financing will come from Brazil's National Development Bank, or BNDES, and BRL4 billion from import-export banks in supplier countries, leaving a little more than BRL10 billion for financing by private sources.

The auction will take place at Brazil's BM&FBovespa stock exchange in Sao Paulo on Dec. 16 and will be open to both domestic and foreign investors.

Brazil Sets Dec. 16 For Auction Of Bullet Train Concession
Automated Trader
July 13, 2010

Brazil Invests in Transit Ahead of 2014 World Cup

As Brazil prepares to host the next World Cup in 2014, its government is planning to invest heavily in urban mobility systems in its 12 host cities.

Twelve Brazilian cities have been selected to host World Cup matches. These cities now face a daunting but exciting challenge: to seize this opportunity to boost urban transit systems in a meaningful and lasting way. World Cup transit investments — meant to help Brazilian cities manage the estimated 2.98 billion additional visitors that the Cup will generate — have the potential to improve quality of life, safety and accessibility in Brazilian cities long after the Cup is over.

The federal government has set aside R$7.68 billion (US$4.34 billion) for “urban mobility” infrastructure improvements in host cities; state and local governments have committed an additional R$3.8 billion (about US$2.15 billion), bringing the total to R$11.48 billion (US$6.48 billion). Private investments will increase this figure. Ideally, transit projects should be nearly complete by the Confederations Cup, which will Brazil will host in 2013 as a prelude to the World Cup.

Spotlight on the World Cup: Brazil Gears Up for Games with Urban Transit Investments
The City Fix
July 9, 2010

Government Admits Fault in Lack of Public Transport to New Durban Airport

Durban has a new airport, but unless you have a car, it'll be tough to reach. The government has acknowledged mistakes in planning the new King Shaka airport 30km outside of Durban without including public transport links to and from the city.

The oversight was the result of silo planning without proper consultation. It had been assumed that everyone in Durban possessed a car, [Transport deputy director-general Lanfranc Situma] said during the presentation of the Department of Transport’s national transport master plan up to 2050.

Govt admits King Shaka mistake
Fin 24
May 5, 2010

Transport Department Proposes $98 Billion Transit Plan

The transport department has presented a 750 billion Rand (~$98 billion USD) plan to parliament that would drastically renovate the rail systems of South Africa. Major links proposed in the plan would expand the regional rail service Gautrain to connect Johannesburg with Durban and Polokwane.

The plan's project manager, Lanfranc Situma, told the portfolio committee for transport that the department needed urgent approval from MPs so that the cabinet-initiated National Transport Master Plan (Natmap) could "get moving".

Natmap transport planning consultant Paul Lombard recommended to the committee that studies be done on whether it was feasible to extend the Gautrain project to the Durban-Johannesburg and Pretoria-Polokwane lines.

R750bn transport plan pitched
Fin 24
May 4, 2010

Small Companies to Jointly Offer Inter-City Bus Transport During Cup

Two small companies have secured a contract to jointly operate extra bus services between World Cup host cities during the tournament.

African Experience Tours and ESC Events have formed a consortium to manage long-distance bus services for general spectators between match cities.

Extra bus services are needed between host cities as existing services and schedules may not be adequate for the volume of visitors expected during the World Cup.

The tender was awarded just two weeks ago, although transport consultants had previously warned that the project was a complex one as the winning bidder would need to obtain vehicles, recruit and train drivers, and sell tickets.

South Africa: Little-Known Companies Win World Cup Bus Tender
Business Day
May 4, 2010

Section of Johannesburg BRT Won't Be Ready in Time for Cup

One of the most important stretches of bus rapid transit route in Johannesburg will not be complete in time for the World Cup.

"Unfortunately, the very vital route along Oxford Road to Sandton will now not be ready in time (and) the Department of Transport has yet to announce the alternative transport plan between Sandton and Park Station (in the city centre) along Oxford Road," said DA spokesperson on transport in the city, Nico de Jager.

The BRT was implemented between Johannesburg central and Soweto in August last year. On Monday, further extensions of feeder routes to Protea Glen and Eldorado Park were launched.

BRT won't be on time for SWC
News 24
May 3, 2010

Massive Transit Strike Planned, But Likely Over Before World Cup

The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) will jointly host a national strike of Transnet, a public commercial company that oversees rail, ports and pipelines in South Africa. Metrorail employees aren't expected to join the strike, but that has not yet been ruled out.

South Africa's transport system was expected to be brought to a standstill from May 10 as 50 000 Transnet workers planned to strike over a wage dispute.

"This will be the biggest strike in the history of South Africa," said Chris de Vos, general secretary of the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) at a press conference in Johannesburg on Friday.

"It will make all other strikes look like kindergarten parties."

Fears over massive strike
Fin 24
April 30, 2010

Transportation Permit Applications Up in Gauteng

More than 1,600 applications have been filled out for special operating licenses in Gauteng Province during the World Cup. Minibus operators, tour agencies and other shuttles are seeking official approval to drive in and around Johannesburg and the rest of the province during the World Cup.

[Gauteng Department of Transport Director Sipho] Mbele said rail was going to be the backbone of the mass public transport, with eight dedicated trains for Tshwane and 10 for Johannesburg to be added to normal operational services.

He said that 50 days before the start of the tournament, the department's transport operations were ready and were being rolled out for 19 of the 32 teams which would have their camps in Gauteng.

1 600 claims for SWC transport
News 24
April 21, 2010

Cape Town Rapid Transit System Close to Complete

Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transit system is coming into shape, and officials say it will be ready to launch ahead of the World Cup.

Hatton said all the infrastructure projects geared for World Cup transport would be ready by the time the crowds arrived.

The ticket kiosk at the Granger Bay station was installed yesterday, and other stations would be completed over the next month.

Bus delivery was on schedule, and batches of buses would begin arriving weekly from next month.

Cape IRT passes critical test
Cape Argus
April 22, 2010

South African Cities Will See Additional Transit During World Cup

Extra train sets and transit police will be on-hand during the World Cup, according to Transport Minister S'bu Ndebele.

[The country has] already invested over R20 billion in the passenger rail services for the World Cup and beyond.

“The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa is currently upgrading key stations and critical infrastructure,” Ndebele said.

The former Kwa-Zulu Natal premier also announced refurbishments of two thousand coaches, the roll out of the South African Railway Police, which are key in making the country fully complaint in support for the soccer spectacular.

Rail services upgraded ahead of 2010 World Cup
Bush Radio News
April 13, 2010

BRT Set to Open in Pretoria

A new bus rapid transit system is getting set to begin the first phase of its operation in Pretoria on April 1. It will expand to other routes later in the year.

The BRT roll-out will be done in phases, with line 1 linking areas in the north, such as Soshanguve and Mabopane, to the CBD, while line 2 will reach out to areas in the south and east, like the fast developing suburbs along Hans Strijdom Drive and Mamelodi.

The completion of lines 1 and 2 would mean a BRT service that covers a route of about 70km and features four bus terminals, 53 bus stations and 159 buses.

Public transport overhaul
Pretoria News
March 29, 2010

Taxis Want to Know Role During World Cup

Taxi officials in Johannesburg are still uncertain about what, if any, role they'll play during the World Cup. The city's new bus rapid transit system is rolling, and local efforts to improve service have left the taxi industry in the shadows.

Irate South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) members told MPs on Tuesday that 93 days before the kickoff, they had yet to hear a word from Ndebele about the part their taxis would play in transporting visitors during the event.

Santaco was at a meeting of the National Assembly's transport committee to hear Department of Transport officials report on progress with the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system and other World Cup transport plans.

Taxi bosses give minister ultimatum
The Star
March 10, 2010

Cape Town Releases World Cup Transit Plan

The City of Cape Town has released its World Cup public transit plan. Certain services will run for free, while many will carry longer hours.

The plan envisages trains, buses, minibus taxis and metered taxis ferrying tourists to and from the airport, the Cape Town stadium and public viewing areas, and on an inner-city loop.

On match days, fans holding World Cup tickets will be able to travel to and from the stadium for free from more than 25 park-and-ride centres across the city, from as far afield as Strand.

Cape reveals plans for 2010 transport network
Cape Times
February 26, 2010

Amid Funding Trouble, Officials Say BRT Will Survive

Funding troubles are threatening the stability of South Africa's foray into bus rapid transit systems in its major cities. Officials say they will do whatever they can to avoid its collapse.

"The ongoing insufficient funding is a major concern. BRTs are mass transit network projects needing sustainable funding for 10 to 20 years - we will not allow it to collapse," acting Transport Department director general George Mahlalela said.

He was addressing a packed SA Bus Operators Association (Saboa) conference in Pretoria, on the progress made in the introduction of integrated public transport networks in the country.

"It (BRT) is a better experience in many ways and interventions need to be put in place to deal with the funding matter."

BRT will not collapse - transport department
Independent Online
February 18, 2010

Rail Draws Eyes as Airlines Struggle

As the airline industry struggles in South Africa, transportation officials are increasingly looking at rail as the sustainable transit investment of the future.

The high cost of fuel, security issues at airports, myriad taxes, the huge infrastructure needed to support air transport, a web of regulation and environmental pressures all make it virtually impossible to keep fares in check. While new technology can address some of these costs, the advances are slow, the benefits minimal.

Trains, on the other hand, have few of the hindrances of air travel, yet fulfil the same economic function of facilitating trade through the transport of goods and people. And while the cost of rail infrastructure is large, once in place the potential to grow is enormous.

South Africa: Slow, Slow Train
Business Day
February 10, 2010

Cape Town's Rapid Transit Costs Triple

The costs of implementing the City of Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transit system have jumped from 1.3 billion Rand ($167 million USD) to 4.6 billion Rand ($593 million USD).

The project has more than tripled in cost, and R16-million of the amount needed for this financial year will be borrowed from the city's rates revenue and repaid in February when the national government allocates its grant funding for transport projects.

The latest adjustment comes after "further refinements" of the IRT's cost estimates.

The city has R584m in hand for a project that will cost an estimated R892m in the 2009/10 financial year, leaving it with a R308m shortfall that will be funded by external bridging finance of R272m.

IRT costs soar to R4,6bn
Cape Times
February 2, 2010

Troubled Gautrain May Begin Operations Before World Cup

Previously thought to be too far behind schedule to begin operations before the World Cup, planners behind the Gautrain rapid rail link between OR Tambo International Airport and Downtown Johannesburg are predicting the system will be ready two weeks before the tournament.

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane doesn't want to pay any extra cash to Gautrain concessionaire Bombela in order to bring the launch date forward from June 27. Instead, the provincial government is offering to relax later delivery deadlines for other parts of the project.

Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe says there is an "80% to 90% chance" that the link will be opened on May 27. "It is looking more than positive," he says. "We hope to sign a new contract and make an announcement in mid-February."

Gautrain may start to roll before World Cup
The Times
January 30, 2010

Gautrain Operation Set to Begin Late

The Gautrain regional train system will not be operational until half-way through the World Cup tournament, according to Gautrain officials. The regional system had planned to have the first leg of its system operational between Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport in time for the 2010 World Cup, beginning in June.

Organisers of South Africa 2010 had hoped fans would arrive at Johannesburg airport and board a high-speed train to the commercial centre.

Instead, most football fans' first experience will now be a taxi or a shuttle bus and more than likely a sizable traffic jam, our correspondent says.

For the past three years builders have been working on the Gautrain - an ambitious $3.5bn (£2bn) project linking Johannesburg, Pretoria and the airport.

Contractors, under pressure to complete before next June's deadline, demanded an additional $180m (£107m) to accelerate their work and hit the target.

SA World Cup rail project delayed
BBC
November 9, 2009