Business Fleet Africa

Tshwane Green Economy Research Network launched

Tshwane, our Jacaranda Capital City is turning green with 40 of the 84 new buses for the second phase of A Re Yeng operations running on compressed natural gas (CNG). What’s more, A Re Yeng is the first bus service i sub-Saharan Africa to run fully on CNG.

CNG is sourced from various gas fields. It is a viable and safe alternative fuel that offers numerous benefits, and it is ideal for use in areas that depend on heavy industry and public transport – it is colourless, odourless and non-toxic.

Natural gas is the only abundant, eco-friendly, economically viable fuel to supply the world’s automotive fleet in the foreseeable future.

Natural gas is the only abundant, eco-friendly, economically viable fuel to supply the world’s automotive fleet in the foreseeable future. The many advantages of CNG include that it burns cleaner than diesel, reduces fuel costs by up to 40% and cuts emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide by 25, 20 and 90% respectively. In addition, it does not produce particulates.

CNG buses is part of the Capital commitment to provide an efficient transport service and transform the existing system into a more sustainable form of transport

The roll out of CNG buses is part of the Capital commitment to provide an efficient transport service and transform the existing system into a more sustainable form of transport. The buses will operate on the current Line 2A route, namely CBD to Hatfield, and the new Line 1A route.

The trunk route for the new Line 1A runs between the Pretoria central business district, along Paul Kruger Street and Mansfield venue, to Wonderboom Station. The Wonderboom intermodal facility (a bus, rail and taxi interchange) is in the design stage, with construction expected to start soon.

Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT), which is a trust appointed by affected operators to run A Re Yeng operations, has trained new drivers in customer care skills, routes and procedures to get used to the routes they will be driving

The Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, and Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, launched the first 12m rigid Mercedes-Benz chassis CNG bus prototype that will form part of the A Re Yeng bus fleet.

Furthermore, the Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT), which is a trust appointed by affected operators to run A Re Yeng operations, has trained new drivers in customer care skills, routes and procedures to get used to the routes they will be driving, memorise all stops and stations, practise docking at stops and stations without any inconvenience to passengers, and carry out safety exercises, which include drills on handling fire, emergency breakdowns and power failures.

Just over a year after commencing operations, A Re Yeng is proving to be the mode of choice for Tshwane residents and those further afield. This is shown by the increase in the number of trips undertaken per day since the A Re Yeng smart card, the Connector, went on sale in November 2014. The average number of passengers has been consistent since February 2015, ranging between 3 000 and 4 000 passengers per day, increasing to 4 495 passengers daily in October 2015.

The City of Tshwane remains confident that the ridership figures will double with Line 1A operating.

The interim fare collection mechanism, the MiFare system, which commenced in December 2014, continues to be operational but will cease to exist upon the commissioning of the EMV system.

The City of Tshwane is expected to roll out the new EMV system on Line 2A early this year. The EMV system will have multiple benefits for consumers:

Students, learners and pensioners will receive a concession;
The EMV card can be used for transactions over and above using it on the bus; and
Integration with other modes of transport in the future is likely.

A Re Yeng commuters also receive 500Mb of data per day,

A Re Yeng commuters also receive 500Mb of data per day, available on all trunk route buses and stations. Users do not need to register in order to use the free Wi-Fi, called Tshwane Free Wi-Fi, and no password is required.

The next phase to be implemented is the one between Hatfield and Menlyn in the east of Pretoria, namely Line 2B. The first section of this phase is AtterburyRoad between Lois Street and January Masilela Drive. The 18-month construction period will commence around the second quarter this year.

Currently, the fare rationalisation with other public transport modes is under-way and should also be completed this year, enabling A Re Yeng users to pay fares that are fairly comparable to other modes.

The A Re Yeng CNG fleet– did you know?

The 12-meter rigid Mercedes-Benz chassis is equipped with an 8,9 litre engine.
A Re Yeng CNG buses are easily identified by the five CNG-cylinders mounted on the roof, covered by a dome.
A Re Yeng CNG buses surpass Euro V standards, have much lower gas emissions, are environmentally friendly, less noisy and incur lower maintenance costs.
The Mercedes-Benz CNG chassis are assembled in East London, while BUSMARK manufactures the bodies locally.
Like the standard 12-meter rigid bus, the A Re Yeng CNG bus is able to carry 33 seated and 35 standing passengers.
The A Re Yeng CNG buses also have eight red priority seats for elderly, infirm and pregnant passengers, and passengers with children or parcels.
Two spaces are provided for wheelchairs and if there are no wheelchairs, there are seats that can be pulled up or down for use by passengers.
A Re Yeng CNG buses are low-entry buses, and meet the requirements of universal accessibility.
A Re Yeng CNG buses have an approximate travelling range of 350km, measured from the point of filling the cylinders to when the gas is depleted.