Motorists+likely+to+shun+Gautrain,+Business+Day

Business Day, Johannesburg, 12 April 2006
=Motorists ‘likely to shun Gautrain’=


 * Chantelle Benjamin Johannesburg Metro Editor**

A STUDY released yesterday concludes that the R20bn Gautrain Rapid Rail Link between Tshwane and Johannesburg is not going to be used by the motorists it is targeting, but by taxi users.

According to the survey, conducted by Synovate, 52% of motorists said they were unlikely to use the Gautrain, while 81% of minibus taxi users indicated that they would be “likely or extremely likely” to use the train.

The premise behind the train, apart from job creation and economic development, is to encourage motorists to use an alternative form of transport to alleviate congestion on major roads between the two cities.

The Gauteng government has said that future congestion and an almost complete reliance on private cars will begin to threaten the social and economic functioning of the province unless an alternative is found.

Jon Salters, MD of Synovate, said that, when asked whether the Gautrain was a good idea for reducing traffic problems, “55% of the car drivers said no”.

Another concern is that the ticket price is expected to target car users and is intended to com-pete with a car’s running costs.

The research, involving 246 taxi users and 207 motorists, revealed some interesting facts about the habits of commuters.

About 79% of respondents travel during rush hour and half the respondents from both groups said they made the trip five days a week.

Of motorists, 91% said they travelled alone and did not take part in lift clubs or car pools, and 48% said they were unlikely to use the train as they needed their car during the day for business, travel and other errands.

Salters said these findings gave credence to complaints by the Congress of South African Trade Unions that the focus of transport alternatives in Gauteng should be shifted from motorists to the users of public transport.


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/national.aspx?ID=BD4A184974 **

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