[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” title=”AirRail Africa Conference” subhead=”Dates: 6-7 October 2016″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” background_url=”https://www.gallagher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/dark-twirls.jpg” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_letter_spacing=”0″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_letter_spacing=”0″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″] [/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#ffffff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_code admin_label=”Fullwidth Code” custom_css_main_element=”background-color:#b58b35;||padding-top:5px;” /][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section” background_image=”https://www.gallagher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/grey-back3.jpg” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.45)” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”on” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
The two-day Gautrain Global AirRail Alliance partnership conference took place at Gallagher Convention Centre on 6 and 7 October under the banner of AirRail Africa 2016 Johannesburg Conference.
The conference was attended by a number of institutions, companies and organisations such as the Gautrain, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, Heathrow Express, Discovery Insure, Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), Uber and AfriGis, a navigation and travel company.
The aim of the conference, which was attended by about 200 guests, was to present and discuss the future of transport in South Africa with a large focus on improving the airport economy and transportation via rail. This in a bid to improve public transport usability and its impact on the economy of the country.
Day one kicked off with a presentation by the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi. Vadi deliberated on the aerotropolis development, an integrated Gauteng transport plan and strengthening relationships in the transport sector.
The MEC also highlighted the role of the taxi industry in closing the transport gap as taxis are able to operate on routes immediately, but a lot still needs to be done, he said.
According to Vadi, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which was expected to boost the economy and improve the public transport system, did not yield the wanted results.
The Gautrain Management Agency chief executive officer, Jack van der Merwe said rail is more expensive than road transport, but is more beneficial due to the high levels of traffic congestion on the roads. Uber is seen as another alternative to public transport, but is also affected by traffic which makes travel time unpredictable.
Van der Merwe pointed out that the Gautrain is not affected by traffic and is the quickest form of public transport available, especially when travelling to the airport.
ACSA’s Kesavan Naicker said they were planning on increasing the economy around the airport through creating income in more ways, by establishing hotels and office parks.
The Mail and Guardian held a Critical Thinking Forum to discuss Gautrain Urban Mobility with a panel featuring representatives from Intelligent Transport Society of South Africa, AECOM, a provider of professional engineering, consulting and project management services for infrastructure projects, the Department of Roads and Transport, University of Pretoria, DBSA and the Global AirRail Alliance.
After the conference, one can only hope that the many ideas raised and plans set will yield results and improve the state of public transport in South Africa.
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