Pretoria - Cabinet has welcomed the launch of the A Re Yeng Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) service in Tshwane last Friday.
The buses started operating officially on Monday.
“The A Re Yeng, like other BRT services around the country, forms part of a strategic public transport network that will improve the lives of commuters by providing them with fast, safe, affordable and comfortable urban mobility.
“The construction of these services forms part of government’s infrastructure roll-out programme, which intends to develop a world class infrastructure in South Africa, while creating jobs,” said Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Performance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration, Jeff Radebe.
He was briefing media in Cape Town on Thursday, following yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
The City of Tshwane’s launch follows on Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya and Cape Town’s Myciti Integrated Rapid Transit systems.
The buses are operated by qualified former taxi drivers recruited from the various taxi associations in the city. The drivers were awarded certificates after successfully completing training on the operation of the new buses.
For their ease and convenience, all A Re Yeng buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi on the trunk route, full air conditioning, low-floor technology which supports Euro V emission levels, vehicle stability and a cashless automated electronic system that is fully monitored by camera and censors.
The A Re Yeng bus project will be rolled out in phases, culminating in the construction of 80 kilometre long dedicated lanes.
The route will comprise 51 bus stations that stretch from Soshanguve to Mamelodi, passing through the city centre and surrounding suburbs.
Once all the routes and bus stops have been completed, the buses will operate seven days a week from 6am until 8:25pm from Monday to Friday, with trunk services every seven minutes in peak periods and every ten minutes in off-peak periods.
On Saturdays, A Re Yeng will operate from 6am until 11:40pm, with ten-minute breaks between services during peak hours and 20-minute breaks during off-peak hours.
The Sunday services will operate from 6am to 8am with 30-minute intervals. – SAnews.gov.za
