A facility that would allow commuters to use one electronic ticketing system across Gauteng has yet to become a reality, as negotiations around implementation continue, despite the technology being available.
An interchangeable card system, which can be topped up via an ATM, is in use in Cape Town, yet - although the infrastructure is available in Johannesburg - not everyone is on board and Gautrain users have to physically go to train stations to use vending machines.
Democratic Alliance shadow minister for transport Ian Ollis says an integrated ticketing system has long been anticipated for the province, but Gautrain management has still not come on board. He says, according to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), it is possible to have a national transport card implemented by October this year.
"Gautrain is just like the odd one out now. The Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in Johannesburg and the MyCiTi bus system in Cape Town have the new card system, which is interchangeable [between the different modes of transport].
"In my budget speech in 2012, I said the minister [of transport] must work with the Gauteng government to essentially force [Gautrain] to come onto the integrated ticketing system," says Ollis. "I proposed we have a national transport card, which can be done."
Prasa, the MyCiTi bus system, the City of Cape Town and the provincial government signed an agreement in November last year to integrate the ticket system for buses and trains, says Ollis. Prasa has installed turnstiles in all train stations that can accept the MyCiTi bus cards. He says the cards are also essentially "debit cards" that can be topped up at an ATM.
Ollis says a minimum set of standards has been passed for the BRT system that specifies the cards must be interchangeable to be used for other modes of transport. "The Gautrain has, however, not come on board on that system. They will be able to do it; they have the technology. So far nothing has happened," he says.
Easy commuting
Ollis says an integrated ticketing system will make it possible for commuters to top up their transport cards anywhere, making the system much more user-friendly.
At the moment, Gautrain cards can only be topped up at train stations, posing a problem for commuters who have to take a bus to the train station, but do not have money on their cards. An online top-up facility is also not available.
In a response from Bombela Operating Company regarding the top-up situation, it stated the current structure of the Gautrain system is specified in the concession contract. "Changes to the structure require modifications to the contract and this can only be done following careful consideration and due process between the Gauteng provincial government and Bombela. This is being looked at."
Bombela referred any further enquiries regarding the integrated ticketing system to the Gauteng Management Agency, which in return referred ITWeb to the provincial government.
Spokesperson for the Gautrain Management Agency, Ingrid Jensen, confirmed that the agency was in talks with the provincial government regarding a new ticketing system, but says nothing has been finalised yet.
The Gauteng Department of Transport could not be reached for comment.
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