Metrorail gets revenue and commuters?

Metrorail on 12 June 2015 decided to drop the bombshell and announce their intention to increase ticket prices from July 1^st. 

Now this came as no surprise to me as I was engaged prior to this announcement but I also knew last year it was coming – in fact I’ve known for the past 5 years.

Before I try and become harsh on Metrorail for the increase, let me first try and be objective and share the following that comparing to 2014 there has been some of improvement: 

• Speed restrictions that were imposed early last year have been lifted at most of the sections.
• Morning and even evening cancelled trains came down from 14/15 at a time to three/four (not ideal but it is an improvement).
• Security is my biggest concern and with Metrorail not immune to social challenges, there has been an increase in guards on trains – again not what it should be but an improvement. The challenge now is to get the railway police back on our trains, preferably times and areas most vulnerable.

Why the increase:

Besides the obvious fact that everything is increasing, Metrorail for three/four years had no fare increase and this led to a 16% increase when they eventually had to implement one (something I as a commuter would not want again). The then management made a commitment towards commuters to never place such a huge burden on them again, but to do that annual increases are needed.

Maybe worth mentioning that it is Prasa and not Metrorail who decide on fare prices, although Metrorail gives input. Also worth mentioning that following last year’s outcry, for the first time, the minister of transport this year wanted to see the fare increases and Prasa had to justify them – she is yet to sign off on them.

 

Metrorail is like any other business and a household, who has to make money to survive. With the announcement the Regional Manager stated they taking a pro-poor pricing strategy for weekly and monthly ticket prices. This means Metro-users (third class) pay for only 6.5 trips per week but have the option of 14 trips including weekends. Metro monthly tickets are priced at 3.1 weeks travel but your ticket allows you to travel for 4weeks.

Considering old assets beyond their design life, obsolete technology and extensive open system vulnerable to vandalism, land invasion, service protests and vagrancy that contribute to the maintenance burden – yes an increase is needed.

Expectation:

Ideally I would have wanted the transport minister to ask Treasury and public enterprises for a bigger cut of the pie and joint venture to fast-track the improvement of our old rail infrastructure.

Seeing as train tracks beyond Stikland and most of the tracks beyond Kuilsriver on the Northern Line belong to Transnet, I would also expect the transport and public enterprises ministers to be bold enough to transfer those tracks to Metrorail to ensure better service, as their hands are currently tied. 

Having said that too many freight trains operate in commuter peak-time and even though goods trains bring in more revenue than commuter trains, the two ministers can make a decision for freight trains not to operate in commuter peak – as the past year have seen too many of them fail in section leading to commuter trains being delayed for up to three hours.

What Metrorail cannot ignore:

Metrorail’s biggest challenge remains customer service communication – I comfort myself with the fact that the Regional Manager not only understands the importance of this but also the frustration of thousands of commuters and is trying his best to make sure this is being addressed. 

It is also comforting to know the Regional Manager occasionally takes a train “undercover” and addresses issues like no announcements, electronic boards that are off, etc.

Metrorail has stated the fare increase is unavoidable. Let’s be honest so is train cancellations, delays, vandalism, defective tracks, trains failing in-section (I do hope and pray though no derailment) the next few months, and thus should proactive communication also be unavoidable.

It is highly unlikely that there will be no increase, so it should be highly unlikely there should be an hour with no customer communication (should be comforting for the tech savvy to know we still have GoMetro and @CapeTownTrains to keep us informed - last mentioned made some major improvements past few months and should be deployed to assist the struggling Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal regions)

Metrorail is going to get their revenue (with the increase), so now us commuters should get better more proactive customer service communication.

Ouma se drie lesse

Liewe Ouma

Dit is vandag (12 Junie 2015) presies twee jaar dat God besluit het jy is ‘n sonneblom wat hy meer nodig het in sy tuin. Ek het lank gedink daaroor om Ouma graf te besoek, maar voel dit is ‘n plek waar ons blomme kan gaan opsit – as ek Ouma mis kyk ek na ons foto saam op my bedkassie en as ek met Ouma wil praat kan ek bid – want ek dra Ouma en al die herinerringe in my hart.

Die vermisting is groot en daar is soms nog trane. So nou en dan mik ek om te bel en dan besef ek daar gaan niemand antwoord nie. As ons vandag moes praat sou Ouma soos altyd vra hoe gaan dit met al die kleinkinders en ek sou moes jok en sê hulle is okay. Ek dink nie ons is almal okay nie, maar Ouma het my geleer en gevra om biddend te bly en soos Ouma vertrou ek op Liewe Jesus.

Ek het onlangs ou foto’s gekyk en daar was een van my en my susters met altwee ons (nou wyle) ouma’s. Dit is die enigste foto in sy soort waarvan ek weer en dit nogal my sesde verjaarsdag. Ek dink soms aan die ou sorglose dae en het ook agtergekom ek sê deesdae meer gereeld my Ouma het altyd gesê of my Ouma het my geleer...

Ek dink baie aan wat Ouma my daai laaste oggend gevra het en voel ek misluk soms, maar herinner my daaraan dat gebed dra krag en dat ek moet vertrou in God met dit wat ek vra.

‘n Jaar gelede het ek onthou hoe Ouma my eenkeer genoem het hoekom gaan studeer ek nie teologie nie en by ‘n ander geleentheid het Ouma my herineer om ‘n boodskap oor te dra en ander te motiveer hoef jy soms nie ‘n dominee te wees nie. Ek weet Ouma is gelukkig dat ek my skepper ken en dat ek altyd onthou my hulp kom van die Here wat hemel en aarde gemaak het.

Vandag soos ek weer rou oor daardie dag, twee jaar gelede, klou ek aan die drie lesse wat Ouma my geleer het

(1) Psalm 23 v.1 “Die Here is my Herder, ek kom niks kort nie”

(2) Waardes en beginsels is belangrik en geld kan dit nie koop nie. Bly by dit en glo en vertrou

(3) Gebed dra krag.