GAUTRAIN FEEDER AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

The Gautrain feeder and distribution services as part of the Gautrain system are described below. These are to be provided by Bombela according to the Concession Agreement with the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG).

1. General description

The Gautrain feeder and distribution service is a modern, safe and convenient bus service offered mainly to Gautrain passengers, to assist them to travel to and from Gautrain stations. This bus services will be operated by the Gautrain rail operators (RATP). The services busses will be clearly identifiable as Gautrain feeder and distribution buses and will offer a service of similar quality as the rail service.

The bus service will complement the existing public transport services and will be operated on selected routes to all Gautrain stations, except the station at OR Tambo International Airport.

Payment for the Gautrain feeder and distribution service will be integrated with the rail fare through a contact-less smartcard system.

1.1 Fast facts

The following are a number of facts about the Gautrain feeder and distribution services:

• Thirty-six feeder and distribution routes serving nine stations. The OR Tambo International Airport Station is excluded;
• Four hundred and thirty kilometres spanning the 36 feeder and distribution routes throughout Gauteng;
• Feeder and distribution service frequencies; at least every 12 minutes a bus will depart in the morning and afternoon peak periods and every 18 minutes during the off-peak periods;
• Operating hours; from 06:00 to 21:00 throughout the day;
• Approximately 2 200 bus trips per day;
• Approximately 26 000km of bus services per day.;
• Fleet; 125 buses (97 35-seater vehicles, 21 55-seater vehicles and 7 articulated buses);
• Bus characteristics:
  • air-conditioned,
  • low floors and wide doors for easy access,
  • fully accessible for people with physical disabilities, including wheelchairs,
  • PA system and digital passenger information systems,
  • latest environmentally friendly technology,
• Safety and security enhanced through radio communication between buses and central control room and satellite tracking of vehicles every 10 minutes;
• Stops at least every 500 metres on both sides of the 36 feeder and distribution routes; and
• Service reliability; actual services much correlate 95% or better with time tables.

1.2 Need for service

The current urban densities of developments surrounding the Gautrain stations are fairly low and this will limited the portion of Gautrain passengers that will be able to initially walk to stations on foot. Gautrain will thus have to depend on passengers traveling to and from stations by means of either their own private vehicles or other public transport services. Therefore, providing good connections to the Gautrain is very important for the success of the system.

As existing public transport service would not necessarily be convenient or suitable to transport passengers to and from stations, especially to their final destinations after arriving at a station by train, Gautrain feeder and distribution services will be introduced in addition to cater for this need.

2. The feeder and distribution service

The Gautrain feeder and distribution service will be attractive and user friendly. Starting with well-trained and courteous staff, this service will be clearly and unambiguously branded with the emphasis on signage and customer comfort and convenience.

This services will operate from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays. The service will start operations at 06:00 in the morning up to 21:00 in the evening, throughout the day. The service intervals will be at 12 minutes intervals in the morning and evening peak periods and 18 minutes in the off-peak. Arrivals and departures will be coordinated with train timetables.

It is understandood that in five years’ time, when the Gautrain becomes operational, the most optimal routes may be different from those planned today, due to changes in development patterns and operational conditions. Thirty-six indicative Gautrain feeder and distribution routes have been identified. However, the routes will only be finalised approximately 18 months before the service commences. Allowance has also been made to make changes to the feeder and distribution services after the Gautrain operations start, to meet changing needs of passengers over the 15 year concession operational period.

Bus types selected for the Gautrain feeder and distribution service will range from 35 seat buses on routes of expected low to medium demand, standard buses configured at 55 seats for higher demand routes and articulated buses for areas where the passenger forecasts may warrant such vehicles. All buses will be fully accessible to special needs passengers and people with physical disabilities.

In the event that successful negotiations can be concluded with the various mini-bus taxi associations they will be contracted to supply additional services. In areas where the patronage figures are below an estimated 90 passengers per hour it is proposed to utilise the 18 seat recapitalised mini-bus taxis that will become available during 2006 as part of the Taxi Recapitalisation programme. In accordance with current best practice the vehicle will be configured to accommodate 16 seats and one wheelchair bay.

2.1 Security

A range of security measures will be deployed for the Gautrain feeder and distribution services, including:

• Alarm and Radio communication with all the buses;
• Continuous Satellite tracking of all the buses on-line;
• Mobile inspectors policing the route;
• Dedicated armed response vehicles at each station;
• CCTV cameras at the parking areas;
• Extensive guarding at the station precincts;
• Covert guarding on selected buses;
• Community consultation on location of bus stops & lighting; and
• Employment of high-level security advisors.

2.2 Safety

Drivers are considered key to the success of the business in that they can directly affect the customer service levels and performance of the company, i.e. accidents, maintenance and customer satisfaction. For this reason, all drivers will have to undergo the following pre-employment screening:

• Authentication of license and Public Driving Permit (PDP) with the local authority;
• Stringent past employee reference checks;
• In-house skills test that include driving of buses, mechanical knowledge and general attitude; and
• Full medical undertaken.

Only after completion of the above, will a driver be employed on a probation period of 30 days. During this period, the new employee will partner an experienced driver and be tested by in-house accredited driver trainer in the course of this period. The services of accredited driver trainers will also be retained.

In terms of their employment contracts, all drivers have to undergo a full medical check up and will be continuously subjected to on the job training. Moreover PDP are renewed annually.

2.3 Fare strategy and collection system

Payment for the Gautrain feeder and distribution service will be integrated with the rail fare and payment for the ‘full journey’ will be seamless for regular users by using contactless smartcards. The concept of paying a single fare is about perceived value for money and convenience. It has proved to be a success on the Paris metro, for example.

Each bus card reader will provide visual and audible indications when a card has been validated and will interface with the bus controller. The bus controller will record all card reader transactions.

2.4 Description of buses

The bus fleet will be totally new at commencement of the Gautrain service and buses will be renewed at ten years intervals. The Gautrain branded buses will feature:

• Low entry point;
• Automatic doors;
• Air conditioning;
• At least two emergency exits;
• Radio communication;
• Public Address system;
• Digital displays;
• Satellite tracking every 10 minutes; and
• Meet latest international environmental requirements.

The Gautrain Bus Operating Plan requires that a fleet of 113 buses and 12 spare vehicles be deployed at the commencement of operations. The fleet will thus comprise of 125 vehicles with the following capacities:

• 35 seat – 97 buses;
• 55 seat – 21 buses; and
• articulated – 7 buses.

On routes where passenger numbers are expected not to exceeding 200 per hour, vehicles with a 35 seat capacity on a standard length low floor bus chassis will be used. The standard chassis has been selected because of the ease in which additional capacity can be provided at short notice by re-configuring the bus. Where the patronage is projected to be up to 370 per hour a standard bus will be used. Articulated buses will be provided on services where the demand exceeds 370 per hour, using a 104 seat configuration.

All buses have low entrance floors and wide doorways to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs and those with walking difficulties. The 35 seat buses will include one wheelchair position, which will be fitted in accordance with the best practice designs available. The 55 seat and articulated buses will provide two wheelchair positions which will be fitted in accordance with the best practice designs available. All buses have folding ramps to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs and will be equipped with air conditioned system.

The fleet will be purchased at least six months before the opening date of the rail service’s operation. This will ensure adequate time for driver training and mechanical training on what will be state of the art buses.

2.5 Bus stops

Bus stops for the Gautrain feeder and feeder and distribution service will be provided approximately 500 metres apart in built-up areas, along the 36 routes.

Bus shelters will be strategically positioned on the 36 routes. To ensure the correct positioning of these shelters, to maximize customer convenience and security, a special survey will be used to test opinion. Thereafter consultation with local planning authorities existing Bus operators and communities will finally determine the best positions.

The bus shelters will be clearly branded and designed to provide overhead shelter and limited seating. Advertising rights will be ‘sold’ in exchange for the supply, installation and maintenance of the shelters.

Timetables will be clearly displayed at the stops and lighting installed in the bus shelters where possible. Where appropriate, lay-byes will be provided to ensure that stopping buses do not interfere with normal traffic operations. This will be done for at least 10% of all Gautrain bus stops.

3. Service performance monitoring

Dispatchers and/or inspectors will physically monitor the Gautrain feeder and distribution service at each station. A live satellite control system and mobile inspectors and CCTV cameras will assist them.

Some of the performance measurements that will be used to monitor the performance of the service are:

• Departure and arrival times;
• Passenger numbers;
• Cleanliness of buses;
• Loading;
• Deviation from routes;
• Updating of time tables;
• Destination boards and duty numbers; and
• Maintenance.

Performance will be recorded and reported to the GPG on a monthly basis.

3.1 Performance targets

Performance targets have been set by the GPG for the operation of the Gautrain feeder and distribution service and continuous non-compliance will be dealt with in terms of a penalty regime.

The Gautrain feeder and distribution service will have to have a ratio of actual trips being operated in comparison with all timetabled services in any contract month (service availability) of at least 99%.

This service will have a ratio of actual late trips to all timed-tabled trips in any contract month (service punctuality) of at least 95%. The timetable design has included point to point journey time calculations that meet current traffic conditions. Bombela will reassess overall journey times on an on-going basis to ensure that bus timetables can be properly operated and so that passengers can have full confidence in them for planning their journeys.

Allowance has been made for ‘bedding in periods’ of six months after commencement of service operations, where performance targets are five percent lower than those mentioned above.

3.2 Maintenance

The bus operator will ensure that all the Gautrain buses are serviced and maintained to the manufacturers specifications. The maintenance plan will include:

• Daily trip checks;
• Running repairs to be carried out at all depots;
• Damaged vehicles (including minor damage) to be replaced by one of 12 spare vehicles and repaired timeously;
• All Certificate of Fitness will be done according to legislative requirements; and
• Detailed maintenance programmes complying with manufacturer specifications will be developed.

3.3 Service providers

The GPG requires the involvement of local transport companies in the provision of the Gautrain feeder and distribution service. This will be achieved by Bombela sub-contracting the bus operation and maintenance to a single Black Enterprise Entity which will be a joint venture (JV) formed between Unitrans (Pty) Ltd, and BBBEE who will hold at least a 35% stake in the JV. Unitrans Passenger (Pty) Ltd, a listed passenger transport company, currently operating in excess of 650 buses and directly employs 2100 staff.

The involvement of local transport operating companies will be achieved through this participation in the JV as Unitrans (Pty) Ltd commit to select at least 50% of the BBBEE partners amongst local transport operating companies. Unitrans Passenger (Pty) Ltd will select their BBBEE partners through a transparent tender process. The scope of service of the BBBEE partners as including, inter alia:

• Provision of Bus driver;
• Technical support in the maintenance of buses/mechanics;
• Supervisory staff;
• Administrative staff in various levels of management;
• Earmaked individuals for board presentation; and
• Provision of working capital needs.

In the selection process Unitrans Passenger (Pty) Ltd will give preference to companies being local operators and within the areas of influence of the Gautrain along the route and will try to accommodate more than one BBBEE partner so that to have representative of the different areas of influence of the Gautrain.

4. Other public transport services

Each station will offer passengers alternatives to the regular scheduled Gautrain feeder and distribution service.

Each station will have a controlled mini-bus taxi loading area that will be easily identifiable and policed by permanent guards. The taxi services will operate on a numbered system to eliminate aggressive competition. Metropolitan bus services have also been identified as providing other route options for passengers and will be integrated as far as possible in nearby but off-site locations.

The Integrated Transport Plan of Johannesburg calls for a fully integrated transport service. To meet this aim it has been accepted that the Gautrain feeder and distribution service will accept casual bus passengers where operating licences can be obtained to allow such conditions.