The Bombela Concession Company (BCC) can double only one more morning train to eight cars on the Pretoria-Johannesburg line before it has provided all the rolling stock it has available for the north-south service, says new BCC CEO Andre van Rensburg.

BCC already runs five eight-car trains during the morning peak on the north-south service, with plans to insert a sixth such train mid-July.

All Gautrain assets, rolling stock included, belong to the Gauteng Provincial Government.

The commissioning of all available trains, bar the ones specific to the airport line, and also one standby train, was predicted only for 2026, when the BCC concession runs out.

“We are very happy that the train is not a white elephant, as many people predicted, but it is used differently than forecast,” says Van Rensburg.

Average train trips are longer than expected, mid-day ridership is low, and morning peaks are highly congested.

“The provided capacity during peak periods is almost at the 2026 forecast levels. We can still reduce headways between trains from 12 minutes to 10 minutes, as well as modify the seating configuration to provide for more standing room,” notes Van Rensburg.

One such reconfigured coach is currently in operation, with the public encouraged to provide feedback to the BCC.

To increase headways to less than ten minutes will require a reconfigured signalling system, and perhaps even a second tunnel between Sandton and Park stations, to allow for increased line capacity on this section of the Gautrain service, says Van Rensburg.

Between Sandton and Park stations there is a single-track tunnel, which means only one train can use the tunnel at a time. This requires some meticulous schedule-planning to ensure the train travelling in the opposite direction does not stand idling, waiting for the track to clear.

A double-track tunnel would substantially increase capacity here, says Van Rensburg, allowing trains to pass between Park and Sandton stations, other than at Rosebank station.

However, none of this will happen without added costs and negotiations between the Gauteng Provincial Government, as system owner, and the BCC.

The BCC will, over the next few weeks, provide the Gauteng government with a five-year demand forecast for the system.

“This is a contractual obligation and tool to enable all parties involved to understand potential future demand, and plan accordingly” notes Van Rensburg.

The demand forecast will provide two scenarios – one where e-tolls are charged on Gauteng’s highways, and one where the system is not implemented.

The Gautrain currently carries 45 000 passengers a day during the week, and 16 000 people a day on its bus fleet.

In an attempt to further promote ridership on the buses, nearly all bus routes pass shopping centres, which also allows for Gautrain users to park their cars there, and not at the almost filled-to-capacity Gautrain stations’ parking lots.

Train availability was above 99.8% for May and June, with punctuality above 99%.

“We feel we are reaching a more stable system now,” says Van Rensburg.

He adds that his short-term aim as new CEO of BCC is to build and improve the relationship between all the Gautrain stakeholders with the aim of becoming more cooperative, “especially if there is talk of system expansions. We must work together to find the best solution, and, for that, relationships are key”.

Van Rensburg says that the BCC understands the reliance its customers have on Gautrain to provide them with a reliable, safe, clean and comfortable transport solution.

“Our focus is to ensure we keep on providing the best possible service to our customers”.

“They want a reliable system and we must provide it.”