GAUTRAIN SMARTCARD TICKETING

From the Gautrain website:

. Smart card electronic ticketing requires only one ticket for the train, bus and parking.
. Commuters will be able to use preloaded smart cards at self-help, computerised ticket vending machines in order to pay for train trips, bus trips or parking.
. Money can be loaded on to the smart card using cash, debit cards or credit cards.
. Contactless technology means that smart cards will be scanned electronically when they are swiped past station access-gate readers.
. In the future, Gautrain’s electronic ticketing system will form part of a single ticketing system for all modes of public transport across Gauteng.

How much Gautrain commuters would be prepared to pay.

The release of the salary survey by Kelly explains why the highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg becomes a garage every morning and afternoon. It also gives an indication of how much people would be willing to pay for Gautrain tickets.

Based on the salary survey, Johannesburg North based companies pay staff around 20% more than Pretoria companies do. For general office staff and administrative positions earning around R10 000 a month, that equates to an additional R2 000 a month. But recruitment firms say it is not only salary people are travelling for, but also the fact that Johannesburg attracts the more prestigious firms which look good on the CV.

When the Gautrain project was launched in 2006, a one-way ticket between Pretoria and Johannesburg was expected to be around R20. That would equate to R880 a month for a round ticket. Even if that is increased and commuters pay R1000 a month, it will be worth travelling to the city of gold for work - especially compared to driving.

It is surprising that people commute at all. At present petrol prices a commuter between the two cities would spend around R60 a day in petrol and once the toll system is fully in place will pay around R45 a day in tolls. That would cost around R2 310 a month - that is a big bite out of anyone's salary.

There are of course still costs to parking and getting from the station to work that need to be added in to the financial calculation but it is probably frustration levels that will ensure Gautrain is a success. People are now prepared to take the lower salaries to work closer to home rather than lose four hours a day to traffic jams. One recruitment agent told Moneyweb that she has seen people actually leave their jobs and risk unemployment because they could not stand another day of Ben Schoeman's hell.

If ticket prices stay within reason, it seems the success of Gautrain is a no brainer.

via

GAUTRAIN FARES & TICKETING

Posted on 24 July 2009 by Railways Africa Editor

Gautrain has adopted a balanced approach in its fare policy, aimed at making the service attractive and affordable. In principle, Gautrain fares will be lower than the cost of using a private car for the same journey but more expensive than those of existing taxi and rail fares. Fare levels will be finalised just before the opening of the system in 2010 and periodically adjusted thereafter.

The characteristics of the Gautrain automatic fare collection (AFC) system are as follows:

• It provides convenient access for all to railway, feeder-bus and parking services;
• It facilitates revenue collection by means of the fare media;
• It protects revenue by means of its security resources;
• It promotes the use of public transport in place of private cars through discounted fares for park-and-ride customers;
• It facilitates control of business performance through product management and management information reporting;
• It provides many opportunities for expanding, extending and developing the business, including the support of a variety of alternatives for interoperability with other transit systems.

Special consideration has been given to the needs of people with disabilities, to minimise queuing and make ticket purchase and car parking access and payment as simple as possible. Wide-entry gates are provided at all stations for use by anybody requiring extra space such as wheelchair users, those with baggage and adults accompanied by small children in pushchairs.