Staff Reporter.
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Acting Group CEO Hisham Emeran has welcomed the huge demand for long-distance bus and train services as the agency gears up for holiday travel at various intermodal stations.
Emeran said the high volume of passengers is an indication that holiday travel is gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels.
“This is a huge relief for the business given the devastating blow we were dealt with during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also an indication of the importance of intermodal passenger travel.
“As a business, we aspire for our stations to be convenient integrated one-stop facilities for travel, shopping, while providing for fast-food restaurants for people on the go. We also hope that our customers enjoy the new improvements at our stations and the retail experience,” he said.
During this season, between 200 000 and 300 000 people move through Park Station per day, making it one of the biggest and busiest stations on the continent.
“As a result, our intermodal stations, Park Station and Pretoria Station have ramped up their operational plans and improved terminal capacity to meet the pressure of the high volume of passengers especially in the last days leading-up to Christmas,” PRASA said.
In keeping up with the demands for long-distance bus travel, Park Station has created a new terminus for five new bus operators, bringing the total number of bus operators at the station to 24, while access points are being rehabilitated at Pretoria Station to alleviate traffic congestion.
“The increase in passengers also provides economic opportunities for informal traders and porters. Park Station remains a vital space to sustain the livelihoods and survival of the informal economy.
“Thus, plans have been put in place to manage and support porters and informal traders while ensuring a safe environment for passengers and patrons,” PRASA said.
Meanwhile, with over 100 destinations throughout South Africa, Autopax bus operators, Translux and City to City, will be running services at full capacity and remain fully booked.
“PRASA would like to advise travellers to plan ahead their journeys, prepare for long queues, and make sure they arrive promptly at the stations for a smoother journey. This week will see a huge surge of people heading for various holiday destinations.
“The Agency is pleased to remain at the forefront of an integrated transport system that responds to the needs of the economy and diverse demands of the public including offering convenient multimodal transport options to reach their final destinations,” PRASA said.