Commuter rail is a primary mode of transport for millions of South Africans. It moves over 2 million people from major centres each day. Behind this mode of transport is the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) that ensures that, at the request of the National Department of Transport or any local government body designated as a transport authority, rail commuter services are provided in the public interest. Metrorail, (an independent division of Transnet) provides services in terms of an operating contract.

Established in April 1990, SARCC owns commuter rail assets (land and properties) in and around stations. The property portfolio is managed by Intersite Property Management Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of SARCC that was established in 1992.

No less than eight major commuter rail station upgrade projects were undertaken last year, including the complete revamp of the Johannesburg Park Station, the largest in the country. The station had become severely run down and it has now undergone an enormous transformation with features such as shops, restaurants, clear signage and a public address system that commuters can clearly understand. There is also a hotel and a taxi rank at the station.

Other stations around the country have been similarly refurbished to provide more efficient and comfortable facilities for rail commuters. The Cape Town station is the latest to undergo a major revamp.

In all these upgrades, Intersite has involved the local artisans and labourers, a policy that Intersite regards highly.

Notable among these upgrades is the Katlehong-Kwesine station. Katlehong was the scene of some of the most savage pre-election fighting and the station was non-existent. In October 1998, the SARCC launched a project, in the presence of the Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, to rehabilitate the station. Katlehong people will soon have access to commuter rail transport after years of deprivation.

Commuter safety has always been important to the SARCC and it became more so just before the 1994 general election. There was heightened train political violence in Gauteng and one of the measures that were undertaken by the SARCC to curb the violence was to introduce the 'hopper' windows for coaches. The windows were hard to break and could not be opened more that 30 degrees making it impossible to throw passengers out. This innovation was successful.

As part of a drive to improve the commuter rail services, the SARCC has embarked on a massive programme to upgrade its existing rolling stock fleet and to purchase new state-of-the-art commuter coaches in a project known as the urban transport modernisation project. The project will kick off with the purchasing of 60 new trailer and motor coaches for the Johannesburg - Soweto route. The five new train sets, each comprising 12 coaches, will be the forerunners of many more that would be acquired in future to replace the aging rolling stock fleet.

A pre-qualification tender for this first phase was issued in April 1998 of which contractors have already submitted proposals in May 1998. Bidders were then screened and a final tender issued. The contractor is expected to be appointed by mid-1999 and delivery of the first trains is expected in the year 2001.

The plan is to continually buy new coaches while upgrading old ones and eventually achieving a scenario whereby, in about 40 years time the SARCC will have replaced all of its 4 500 suburban coaches. This includes the refurbishing of about half of the existing coaches and extending their lives by 15 to 20 years at a cost of about 20 percent of that of a new coach.

The commuter rail business is set to change through concessioning, that is a privilege or right granted by government to an entity for the provision of public services in terms of the service specifications, a performance regime and competitive bidding. The aims of concessioning are to improve efficiency and quality of service, to improve competitiveness, to improve financial performance and to target private sector capital.

The SARCC envisages a significant improvement in commuter rail service from the enhanced rolling stock. Furthermore, concessioning is expected to increase operational efficiencies and the effectiveness of services provided at a reduced cost. These benefits will enable the SARCC to develop the rail commuter market and to increase market share.

Rail commuters are certain of a better commuting experience in future.