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The determined fares are based on the principle of affordability and are highly competitive compared to other modes of public transport. They are sufficiently price-attractive to create a substantial shift from private car use to public transport in the form of Gautrain.

For example, a person who buys a monthly ticket for the trips between Hatfield Station in Tshwane and Park Station in the CBD of Johannesburg – the longest possible trip on the system – will pay R39 per trip. If he/she buys a weekly ticket the trip will cost R43. For a single ticket, it will be R49 per trip. This compares favourably to the cost of a single trip between Hatfield and Johannesburg CBD for a 1600cc car, which is R61-00. This is for fuel and tyres only and excludes depreciation, maintenance and parking costs.

It is expected that the majority of people will buy monthly tickets and thus pay R39 for the trip. As these will be regular commuters, a 20% discount will apply for monthly (44 trips) tickets and a 10% discount for weekly (10 trips) tickets.

The Gautrain Feeder and Distribution bus fare will be R6 per trip for a person specifically making use of the Gautrain. For other ordinary users of the Gautrain buses, the fare will be R20 per trip.

Parking fees at stations will be R10 per day if the Gautrain is used and R80 per day if the train is not used. Fares for longer periods are shown in the attached table.

The fare for a trip to the OR Tambo International Airport, which is currently R100 from Sandton and Marlboro, will increase to R105 from these stations. The fare will be R115 from the new Johannesburg stations (Park, Rosebank and Midrand) and R125 from the Tshwane stations (Centurion, Pretoria and Hatfield).

Gautrain will be able to transport commuters each day in all directions providing economic mobility and the convenience of door-to-door commuting. The Gautrain system also comprises a fleet of modern low-entrance buses with comfortable seating, providing feeder and distribution services to and from the Gautrain stations. The municipal Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) services will also be integrated with Gautrain at many of the Gautrain stations. Commuters, therefore, will not have to experience the same frustrations and delays as motorists associated with escalating traffic congestion.

Gautrain is not competing with other modes of public transport, such as taxis and buses, which all have an important role to play in the total transport system. Therefore, a lower limit, which is more expensive than the other existing modes of public transport, was set for the Gautrain fares. The fares, as negotiated with Bombela and formalised in the Concession Agreement, have been fixed between the fares of other modes of public transport and the cost of private vehicle use.

On 8 June 2010, a few days before the commencement of the FIFA Soccer World Cup, the first phase of Gautrain was opened. This includes the section between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport, inclusive of Marlboro and Rhodesfield Stations. If all goes well, the full system will be operational by 01 July 2011. Commuters have embraced Gautrain and the ridership for the first phase is meeting expectations.

Gautrain is more than just a train. Based in the economic heartland of South Africa, it is one of several strategically-integrated Gauteng Provincial Government projects. It is aimed not only at meeting future transport demands and improving the image of public transport, but also at economic development and employment creation.

Source: Gautrain