Metrorail’s Business Express is changing commuter perceptions in SA {writer: Shaun Meyer}

Sophisticated, comfortable and safe commuter transport in South Africa has become a reality thanks to the Metrorail Business Express.

Since the launch of the first service in 2007 between Naledi Station in Soweto and Park Station in Johannesburg, the reception has exceeded expectations, with additional routes being made available in Gauteng and the Western Cape – now numbering six in total.

The Business Express trains start early and stop only at a few key stations. Safe and secure parking is provided.

Commuters receive a free cup of coffee and newspaper – either the Cape Times or Die Burger on the Western Cape service.

Laptop work stations are available, with friendly hosts to help you set up.

Reduced travel time

In many instances, travel time is reduced by making use of the Business Express service instead of travelling by car.

In Gauteng, for example, the travel time is drastically reduced from Pretoria to Johannesburg where Business Express travel time averages an hour – saving most commuters considerable time compared to travelling by car between the two cities.

South Africa’s urban highways are becoming increasingly congested year-on-year, particularly in major cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Metrorail is heeding the call for fast, cheaper commuter travel by offering business clients a less expensive yet comfortable commuting option in its express trains.

This is taking South African cities a step closer to London and New York, for example, where rail travel is used by a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life.

“Our job is to change public perceptions in favour of trains,“ said Tshepo Lucky Montana, who is the chief executive officer of Metrorail.

“The Northern Express (in Gauteng) continues on the path already established by its predecessors, the Khayelitsha, Soweto and Tshwane Business Express trains, in responding to customer demands for a first-class train service.”

An additional luxury business-class train took to the rails in April 2010 in the Western Cape, operating between the Huguenot, Paarl and Cape Town stations. Comprising six carriages, it seats 294 commuters and sports 18 laptop workstations.

The Business Express covers the distance in 70 minutes and only stops at the Paarl, Kraaifontein, Brackenfell and Stikland stations before expressing to Mutual and Cape Town stations.

All feeder stations have secure parking on a first come first served basis.

A dedicated on-board cabin crew is available as well as dedicated security.

Customers can e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it during business hours to book. Once a reference number has been issued, customers have 24 hours to purchase their ticket from a dedicated window at Cape Town Station’s information centre.

The price and destination list for the latest Western Cape service, by way of example, is as follows:

Station          Monthly Weekly

Huguenot R900       R320

Paarl R900       R320

Kraaifontein R750       R250

Brackenfell R700       R230

Stikland R700       R230

Strand R900 R320

Somerset R900 R320

Firgrove R780 R240

Eerste River R650 R200

Kuils River R650 R200

This represents a saving of hundreds of rands compared to the cost of petrol for five return trips per week between any of the feeder areas and Cape Town, in just about any car imaginable.

“The introduction of Business Express services has been a key milestone in the process of repositioning Metrorail as a world-class organisation. This achievement is a clear demonstration that Metrorail has the potential to play a major role and could serve as the backbone of an efficient transport system in South Africa,” Montana claimed.

He said that the rail service did not anticipate the kind of interest that has been experienced to date.

Montana ascribed the interest from commuters in Metrorail’s Business Express to increasing traffic congestion as well as rapidly rising fuel costs. “You can see the South African public yearns for good, safe and reliable public transport,” he added.

Since the unveiling of South Africa’s first luxury commuter train at Naledi Station in Soweto in 2007, the highly successful service has caught on and now includes the popular Khayelitsha Business Express service as well as those between Strand and Cape Town in the Western Cape, and between Pretoria and Johannesburg in Gauteng.

Fast Facts

2007 Soweto Business Express

Area: Soweto to Johannesburg

Seating capacity: 360

Stopping stations: Naledi, Dube, Johannesburg, Park Station

Average travel time: 90 minutes

2007 Khayelitsha Express

Area: Khayelitsha to Cape Town

Seating capacity: 300

Stopping stations: Khayelitsha, Heideveld, Mutual, Cape Town

Average travel time: 40 minutes

2008 Tshwane Business Express

Area: Pretoria to Johannesburg

Seating capacity: 520

Stopping stations: Pretoria, Centurion, Kempton Park, Johannesburg

Park Station

Average travel time: 90 minutes

2009 Premium Express

Area: Strand to Cape Town

Seating capacity: 252

Stopping stations: Strand, Somerset West, Firgrove, Eerste River, Kuils River, Mutual, Cape Town

Average travel time: 70 minutes

2009 Gauteng Business Express

Area: Pretoria to Johannesburg

Seating capacity: 520, with wheelchair facilities

Stopping stations: Pretoria, Centurion, Kempton Park, Johannesburg

Park station

Average travel time: 90 minutes

Municipal buses: Contracted to provide a feeder and distribution service to the north, east and the city centre of Johannesburg and Pretoria

2010 Cape Town Business Express

Area: Paarl to Cape Town via Kraaifontein and Brackenfell

Capacity: 294

Stopping stations: Huguenot, Paarl, Kraaifontein, Brackenfell, Stikland, Mutual and Cape Town

Average travel time: 70 minutes

Comments on the Business Express train service seem mostly favourable, but with some delay issues in Gauteng at times.

J .Tshabalala wrote on Engineering News Online: “Just took my first Business Express ride this morning. Personally, I have no complaints whatsoever. Instead, I was more than impressed with the service! I’m still surprised that this is happening in South Africa. If this is how things are going to get done from this point on, then we are on the right track as a country. Great job to everyone involved in any way in getting the Business Express to work as smoothly as it does.”

The concept by Metrorail is to change public perception of rail transport, demonstrating the comfort and convenience of train travel which can restore dignity to rail, and respond to customer willingness to pay for a superior service.

The express trains are brand new and are instantly recognisable. The comfortable seating, curtains and carpets ensure a fresh and luxurious look.

With rising fuel costs, ongoing traffic congestion and now talk of extra toll roads on major highways, the Metrorail implementations over the last couple of years come at a good time to relieve frustrated motorists who sit in hours of traffic every week day and spent large sums of money on petrol.

For those who can afford it and are long-term passengers, the Metrorail Business Express offers a better service, less overcrowding and punctual trains, and a safer and cheaper alternative to commuting by car.

Metrorail has proven wrong its critics who suggested it is impossible to coax commuters out of their cars and onto the trains. Its Business Express train between Johannesburg and Pretoria has already surpassed the passenger numbers that the South African Rail Commuter Corporation envisaged when the service first started.

The key thing right now is to maintain a good level of service that will keep commuters coming back, and to spread the word to others that it is a viable option for travel.

The Business Express needs to open more destinations, which will allow more people to take up the option.

These express trains are putting South African commuter travel on the right track; it may not work everywhere, but it is the type of commuter travel this country requires to keep up with international commuter transport.