Transport Minister Barbara Creecy will visit PRASA Pretoria Station today, Thursday, 15 October, to check progress in rebuilding commuter rail along the Mabopane Corridor and to launch a new City to City bus fleet.
The oversight visit, which starts at 09:00, will include a tour of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) Centralised Train Control Centre. It forms part of October Transport Month, held this year under the theme “Building a safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable transport system”.
For thousands of commuters in Tshwane’s northern townships, including Mabopane, Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa, the corridor links home to work, school and the Pretoria city centre.
What Is Happening At Pretoria Station Today?
According to a media advisory from the national Department of Transport, Creecy’s programme has three parts:
- The Centralised Train Control Centre: PRASA’s control hub, which monitors and manages train movements across its network.
- The Mabopane Corridor: An inspection of signalling upgrades, infrastructure improvements and work to increase train frequency and improve operational safety.
- The City to City bus launch: The unveiling of a new fleet for City to City, part of PRASA’s Long-Distance Passenger Services.
“This October Transport Month presents us with the opportunity to demonstrate the vastness of the portfolios of entities within the Department of Transport and their impacts in the lives of all South Africans,” Creecy said in the advisory.
“Not only have we witnessed the rebuilding of rail within PRASA, but we have also seen significant progress within their Long-Distance Passenger Services as well as secondary mandate,” she added.
What Has Changed On The Mabopane Corridor?
The department says PRASA has carried out significant work along the Mabopane line in recent months, including:
- Upgrades to signalling systems
- Infrastructure improvements along the route
- Work aimed at running trains more often
- Measures to improve operational safety
Signalling is central to how many trains can run. When signals are damaged or stolen, trains have to run slowly and far apart, often under manual authorisation. The Mabopane to Pretoria line was among the routes PRASA had re-signalled by April 2024 as part of a national programme to replace damaged and stolen equipment.
Even so, journeys remain long. EWN reported in April that a full trip from Naledi in Soweto to Mabopane takes more than 90 minutes, which PRASA acknowledges is a challenge.
At the launch of Transport Month on 1 October, PRASA Group CEO Hishaam Emeran said the agency planned to add one or two peak-hour trains on the Mabopane and Leralla corridors by adjusting timetables and improving infrastructure.
PRASA’s longer-term goal is trains every five minutes at peak times. That depends on a multibillion-rand signalling programme, which is still being procured and is expected to take about two years to roll out once contracts are awarded.
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Isitimela Sabantu: The New Trains On Gauteng’s Lines
Commuters on most of PRASA’s network now ride the blue and white Isitimela Sabantu trains, which the department says are part of efforts to provide a more reliable and affordable service.
The trains are built in Nigel, Gauteng. According to TimesLIVE, PRASA has received about 330 of the 600 new trains it ordered, and more than 90% of restored corridors now run on modern trains. The newer trains feature air conditioning, CCTV and better accessibility.
How PRASA’s Rail Recovery Is Going
PRASA’s commuter service collapsed during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when vandalism and cable theft left large parts of the network unusable. The agency has since been rebuilding corridor by corridor.
Key figures shared by Creecy and Emeran at the start of Transport Month include:
- Passenger trips: An audited 101 million trips in 2025/26, up from 10 million in 2020/21.
- Corridors: 35 of PRASA’s 40 priority passenger rail corridors restored.
- Customer satisfaction: Up from below 50% to above 75%.
- Investment: More than R50 billion spent over the past three years on new trains and infrastructure, with close to R50 billion more expected over the next three years.
Not every line is back to full strength. Some corridors still run trains only every 30 to 40 minutes. On the East Rand, the Daveyton to Etwatwa corridor still needs major repairs after stations were vandalised and tracks and electrical infrastructure stolen.
What Is City To City?
City to City is one of PRASA’s long-distance bus brands, run by its subsidiary Autopax alongside Translux. It offers no-frills, semi-luxury coach travel between South Africa’s major centres, with routes into neighbouring countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho and Eswatini.
The new fleet forms part of PRASA’s Long-Distance Passenger Services, which Creecy says has made significant progress. The launch comes ahead of the festive season, when demand for long-distance and cross-border travel from Gauteng peaks.
Details of the new fleet, including the number of buses and the routes they will serve, are expected to be shared at today’s launch.
What This Means For Gauteng Commuters
For Tshwane’s rail users, signalling and infrastructure upgrades on the Mabopane line should mean safer journeys and, over time, more trains at peak hours. Rail remains one of the cheapest ways to travel in Gauteng, and PRASA offers discounted fares for schoolchildren in full uniform, pensioners and military veterans.
For Gauteng residents who travel long distances, a refreshed City to City fleet could offer another affordable option for trips home over December and for cross-border travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where And When Is Minister Creecy’s Visit?
The visit takes place at PRASA Pretoria Station on Thursday, 15 October 2026, from 09:00.
What Is The Mabopane Corridor?
It is PRASA’s commuter rail line linking Mabopane and surrounding townships in northern Tshwane with Pretoria. Upgrades include new signalling, infrastructure repairs and plans to increase train frequency.
What Is Isitimela Sabantu?
Isitimela Sabantu is the name for PRASA’s new blue and white commuter trains, built in Nigel, Gauteng. They now run on most of PRASA’s restored network.
Who Runs City To City Buses?
City to City is operated by Autopax, a wholly owned subsidiary of PRASA that also runs Translux.
What Is The Theme For Transport Month 2026?
The theme is “Building a safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable transport system”.
What To Watch Next
Commuters should look out for any timetable changes on the Mabopane line, the award of contracts for PRASA’s national signalling programme, and details of City to City’s new routes and fares ahead of the festive season.
