By Qotoyi Xolani
A taxi fare from Cape Town taxi rank to Philippi is R25 while a train ride of the same distance is R9. Clearly a no brainer but when I was staying in Phillipi working in town, commuting between these two points needs to be thought trough. You needed to have a backup R25 each day you were going to use a train to and from work.
To someone else this might be minor but to us it is a major let down and inconvenience because of the nature of the salary we receive.
KUDOS BUT…
Image: PRASA FACEBOOK
PRASA has successfully launched a powerful and safe train model and has been well received by the people most. They have brought back train stations that have been damaged due to strikes and are continuing to bring back other train stations as well.
The organization is actively working hard in restoring the dignity, hope and realistic transport fare in the city. With many South Africans working for a salary that affords them transport fare and basic needs. PRASA is coming in or coming back rather to save our pockets but lately PRASA has turned into a story of cheap is expensive.
Trains are frequently late at pickup points and destinations, they even stuck along the way and sometimes a no show.
Now I understand that this is a work in progress because we do see people along the railways working everyday but my questions are; What is being done about this and in terms of communication what measures can be taken to communicate to commuters about these setbacks beforehand as this is a common occurrence and it is putting people in consistent quarrels with their employers and sometimes dismissals.
One day I woke up from my flat in Philippi getting ready to go to work, I know how many minutes it takes for me to get to the train station and I know exactly the time that the train will arrive but what I do not know is whether or not the train is operating that particular day/hour. I can only know this when I get to the train station.
What I’m asking for is what is PRASA planning to strengthen communication and ofcourse making the train reliable.
I have sent an email on the 18th of April to info@prasa to request a meeting for Monday the 20th of the same month as I wait for a reply a day after sending the email.
PRASA is welcome to clarify or respond to the issues raised here, and this platform remains open for their side of the story.
