Tshwane Rapid Transit - Our Origins

Tshwane Rapid Transit (Pty) Ltd is a corporate legal entity in terms of the Companies Act 71 of 2008, as amended, responsible for rapid bus services within the City of Tshwane and surrounding areas. It is a government initiative aimed at transforming public transport and dramatically improve commuters’ experience of mobility.

The principal way in which the TRT seeks to transform road-based public transport services is through a concept known as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). BRT is a high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective urban mobility using segregated right-of-way infrastructure, rapid and frequent operations, and excellent customer service.

The shareholders of TRT are taxi and bus operators, on routes serviced by private buses and taxis, known as Affected Operators, through shareholding equivalent to their market share. TRT is managed as an independent corporate entity.

A corporate governance structure has been established as an interim arrangement for the daily operations of TRT until handover to the Affected Operators. It has its own independent board, management team and staff. Its plan is to provide the public with services that are pleasantly efficient and commercially viable for the benefit of the Affected Operators.

The running of the company is based on a concession agreement with the City of Tshwane, and it is governed by standard operating procedures designed by the City. The City of Tshwane is responsible for fare collection, the monitoring of services, and for tracking TRT’s performance.

The introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the City of Tshwane comes as a transport system that is designed to improve capacity and reliability of the contemporary conventional bus system. This has among other things, precipitated the design of roadways that are dedicated and gives exclusive priority to buses at intersections. The system is designed in such a way that it can combine the capacity and speed with flexibility, lower cost, and simplicity of a bus system. Globally, the first BRT of its kind was explored and tested in 1974 in Curitiba (Brazil).

TRT Operations are managed through two streams of government policy namely the Integrated Public Transport Network (IRPTN) and Public Transport Operating Grant (PTOG) space. TRT together with the City of Tshwane have signed the BOCA (Bus Operating Company Agreement) which regulates the relationship in line with the provisions and requirements of IRPTN. The City collects the revenue and manages the system whilst TRT supplies buses on a kilometer basis to the City.

TRT further operates within the PTOG space where contracts are issued by the contracting authorities, in this case the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT). These contracts are subsidized, and the company collects and manages its own revenue. The current contract was issued in 1996 and is being renewed on an annual basis. TRT started these operations in October 2017 on a

TRT CEO: Mr Samuel Matebane

temporary basis and has since learned and mastered the operating model. TRT has interest to operate in this space on a permanent basis with the Taxi Industry partners.

TRT’s current operations is as follows:

• The BRT bus procurement project is funded by DBSA;

• Currently 114 BRT buses procured (30 Volvo and 84 Mercedes Benz);

• 55 buses procured for Mamelodi operations;

• 40 CNG Standard (12m);

• 7 Articulated Diesel (18m);

• 67 Standard Diesel;

• TRT buses are owned and managed by the company;

• We operate 30 000 Average trips per month;

• 56 Bus stops

Furthermore, among other issues, the BOCA with the City of Tshwane requires TRT to increase the BRT fleet size to 171. TRT is currently exploring business partnerships with Taxi Associations in Tshwane for contracts from the areas covering Mamelodi, Hammanskraal, Atteridgeville, Mabopane and Soshanguve. The estimated number of buses for TRT to operate in this partnership is in excess of 1 000. TRT is working on both the BRT expansion as per phase 1 roll out.

TRT’s current BRT route network is summarized as follows:

• The Inception Phase 1A – Line 2A from Pretoria CBD to Hatfield (7km) – launched in 2014,

• Phase 1B and 1C – Line 1A – Paul

Kruger Street – Wonderboom (11km) –launched October 2017

The revised schedule introduced the following improvements over and above the previous schedule:

• Line 1 and Line 2 have been combined into a single service from Wonderboom via Molefe Makinta Station to General Siyothula Station in Hatfield,

• A separate BRT service has been introduced from Molefe Makinta Station to Bosman Station.

In September 2021, the City of Tshwane launched A Re Yeng Line 2B route from CBD to Menlyn, this is an incredible milestone. Given, that this expansion has been on the table for the past four years. This new route operates in mixed traffic and will connect the Menlyn economic node with the heart of the capital. OUR VISION To be the leading passenger transport operator in the continent.

OUR MISSION

To operate reliable, safe and commercially viable passenger transport services.

OUR OBJECTIVES

• To render a safe, affordable and reliable bus operating service to the residents of Tshwane and surrounding areas.

• To improve the socio-economic conditions and quality of life of all Tshwane residents

• To offer a better level of service, as part of an integrated public transport system.

• Ensure a financially sustainable business that plays a role in promoting environmental sustainability.

• To be recognized as “Employer of choice”.

• Embed governance compliance culture and risk management.

• Operate an efficient and effective bus operation.

OUR STRATEGIC INTENT

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Expansion of TRT business operations.

• Stakeholder engagement and management.

• Ensure a financially sustainable business that plays a role in promoting environmental sustainability.

• To be recognized as “Employer of choice”.

• Embed governance compliance culture and risk management.

• Operate an efficient and effective bus operation.

Over the last three years, TRT has been operating BRT buses, which were not fit for purpose. Pursuant to the extension of our contract for a further 36 Months, by Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. TRT commenced with internal engagements, pertaining the procurement of buses for this operation.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Launch of new buses in the Mamelodi bus operations

To improve our service to the community of Mamelodi, Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT) launched new buses for the Mamelodi bus operations, effective from 1 February 2021.

Over the last three years, TRT has been operating BRT buses, which were not fit for purpose. Pursuant to the extension of our contract for a further 36 Months, by Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. TRT commenced with internal engagements, pertaining the procurement of buses for this operation.

The company was able to successfully procure commuter type of buses, which will enable the company to provide high-quality bus service to the community of Mamelodi These newly procured commuter buses will address numerous challenges that we were confronted with namely overloading and inability to fully service the timetable.

• Fleet Telematics

One of TRT’s strategic goal was to implement a telematics system, this goal was achieved when TRT appointed MBSA for its fleet board system. The implementation of the system will enable the company to track the following data on its buses; Vehicle location, Driving patterns, Traffic and Congestion, Geo-fencing, CO2 Emissions, Servicing and Maintenance and Telematics Mapping.

• Implement Quality Management System

The company is in the final phase of implementation of ISO 39001:2012 which specifies requirements for a Road Traffic Safety Management System. It enables an organization that interacts with road traffic system, to reduce death and serious injuries related to road traffic crashes. This standard is applicable to public and private organizations that interact with road traffic system.

This standard is created to have a considerable impact on the future of traffic safety and increase the awareness of speed, vehicle and driver condition. Concerning the social role, ISO 39001 is a journey to make our roads a safer place to travel.

Benefits of ISO 39001 certification to our company:

• Improves company image

• Reduces traffic accidents

• Improves productivity

• Improves working environment which leads to higher employee satisfaction

• Cost reduction on vehicles

• Competitive advantage toward our competitors

• Competitive advantage in tenders

• Less administrative procedures with insurance companies

• Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

• Compressed Natural Gas

Of the 114 BRT bus fleet, 40 buses run on Compressed Natural Gas making Tshwane the first city in sub-Saharan Africa to run buses on gas.

Natural gas vehicles offer an array of economic and environmental benefits to Tshwane residents. These may include the economic benefits of a low-cost domestic fuel, developing a market for green jobs, improving regional air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the company’s dependence on petroleum. Natural gas vehicles are some of the cleanest vehicle in commercial production today and produce only 5 to 10 percent of the emissions allowable, even by today’s most stringent standards. Compressed Natural Gas buses produce 20 to 30 percent less greenhouse gases than gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles.

Benefits of using CNG buses are:

• Lower gaseous emissions

• Environmental safety

• Release less noise than normal diesel buses

• Lower maintenance costs than other hydrocarbon fuel-powered vehicles.

The sound pressure level of a CNG engine is lower than that of a diesel engine, causing 90 percent less noise. This makes CNG buses a good choice in densely populated areas or for vehicles that operate at night. In addition, refuelling with compressed natural gas, versus gasoline or diesel, reduces odorant and evaporative emissions.