By Nangamso Mabindla
26 October 2005

FOR Buffalo City to be successful, it is essential to improve the public transport system, according to the City's general manager for transport planning and operations, Michael Kridiotis.

The first phase of the improved public transport system

Kridiotis said the City needed to make better use of its rail network as part of its vision to restructure public transport and services. He was speaking to politicians, business people and learners on national Car Free Day in Komga on Thursday, 20 October.

However, he warned that for the railway to be successful, it needed to work closely with other forms of public transport, including minibus taxis and buses.

"We would like to formalise the minibus taxi industry and harness this resource into an integrated public transport system that puts the customer first. Scheduled, contracted feeder/distribution bus services would also need to be implemented to provide access to the rail network and trunk bus services introduced to supplement the limited rail network."

Talking about the implementation of phase one of the City's public transport plan scheduled for 2008/09, in time for the Fifa 2010 World Cup, Kridiotis said it entailed upgrading the service level of the existing rail line.

"We need to reduce travel time, increase frequency and hours of operation and accessibility to stations. Rail-road interchanges and pedestrian facilities need to be constructed. We also aim to facilitate easy transfer between rail and road services by using through-ticketing," he added.

Buffalo City aimed to develop a safe, reliable and customer friendly public transport system, Kridiotis concluded.