On August 25, 2024, Minister of Transport Ms. Barbara Creecy, along with PRASA CEO Mr. Hishaam Emeran, Gauteng MEC of Transport Ms. Kedibone Diale Tlabela, and other transport officials in the rail sector, conducted a rail tour to evaluate the integrated transport rail services in preparation for the highly awaited championship test match between South Africa’s pride, the Springboks, and New Zealand’s All Blacks.
This initiative, led by Minister Creecy, involved a collaboration between the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Gautrain, the City of Johannesburg, and Emirates Airline Park Stadium Management. Its goal was to promote the use of integrated train services provided by Gautrain and PRASA for rugby fans attending the upcoming match between the Springboks and New Zealand on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
According to the Minister, the cooperation between PRASA and the Gautrain Management Agency (Gautrain) to transport fans to next Saturday’s test match between the Springboks and All Blacks is a great example of integrated urban transport. “In preparation for the Springboks’ test match, we are illustrating the integration between the Gautrain Management Agency and PRASA rail systems and other modes of transport for the benefit of commuters, in this case, the rugby fans who are going to Emirates Airline Park stadium,” said Minister Creecy.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Rugby fans will be able to board the Gautrain at any of the seven stations between Hatfield and Park Stations (Hatfield, Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand, Marlboro, Sandton and Rosebank) or any of the five stations between OR Tambo International Airport and Park Stations (OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro, Sandton, Rosebank) – of course changing trains at Sandton Station.
As part of the integrated transport solution for the Springboks match, PRASA will be laying on special trains for the fans on the day of the match. The trains will run at 15-minute intervals from Park Station to Ellis Park Station from 10:30am until 9:30pm. The journey will be free for match ticketholders and each train has a capacity to transport 2,440 fans per train trip.
The PRASA trains will link up with the Gautrain service, which will run from 5:30am until 10:40pm. The normal Gautrain service will be extended by two hours across all stations, and the last train will depart from Park Station at 10pm. The normal Gautrain fares will apply.
After the match, passengers will be able to take the train from Ellis Park Station to Park Station and then proceed to the Gautrain Station. On the return journey, commuters can also take the free PRASA train at Ellis Park Station and proceed to the designated area for e-hailing services. E-hailing services will be able to drop off passengers from 11am to 10pm at PRASA head office in Wolmarans Street, Johannesburg. The E-Hailing Zone at PRASA’s Umjantshi Head Office is safe, well-lit, fenced off and has secure parking facilities. There is also signage directing fans to the E-Hailing Zone. There will be safe and secure parking at the Rissik Street entrance to Park Station, with limited parking at R50 for the day.
