Gautrain moves to normalise peak period operations, as strike continues

As the indefinite strike continues into the third day, the Gautrain has expanded its limited operations and opened the Rosebank station on Wednesday morning.

The Rosebank bus routes will also be operated during peak periods.

The Bombela Operating Company (BOC) which runs the Gautrain, on Tuesday introduced a rail  service between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton stations, stopping at Rhodesfield station.

According to the contingency plans during the industrial action, the rapid rail will during peak periods run every twelve minutes between Centurion and Sandton; Sandton and Rosebank; and Rosebank and Park Station.

The train between OR Tambo and  Sandton (stopping at Rhodesfield) will depart every 36 minutes in peak periods between 05:45 – 09:00 and 16:00 – 19:00.

There are no trains during off peak periods on the popular P-Line, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, while a bus service will transport commuters between Sandton and the airport during those times.

The move to normalise train operations during peak periods follows delays on the bus service on Monday as a first ever strike over wages kicked off. 

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) demanding a 10%  basic salary increase, a transport allowance of R800, a housing allowance of R1 600 and incentive bonuses of R20 000 for all employees. 

The BOC said it had offered an 8.6% across-the-board increase, and called on UNTU to reconsider the offer, calling it “generous” and above inflation. 

As of Tuesday evening, there has been no word yet about when negotiations will resume. 

The Gautrain transports approximately 60 000 travellers daily and several stranded commuters on Monday complained to Fin24 about the lack of communication about the contingency plans. 

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