Joe Maswanganyi, the Transport Minister of South Africa, officially launched a new passenger rail transport service on Johannesburg – Musina route (Limpopo province), which allows direct link between Gauteng and Limpopo.
The transport services are provided by Shosholoza Meyl, a division of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
“Shosholoza Meyl received many requests from customers, pleading for the return of the service. The management evaluated the request and reached a decision to reinstate the service. This comes in light of supporting the PRASA corporate plan in transporting our customers at an affordable cost,” Mthuthuzeli Swartz, Acting PRASA Rail CEO.
This service was withdrawn in 2014 due to the rationalisation of train services, however, due to popular demand the management decided to reopen the service between Johannesburg and Musina.
“The train will have a dining car that provides meals, tea/coffee, refreshments, TV screens, Wi-Fi access, showers, a dining hall, and also charging facilities enabled to attract more youth,” Transport minister said.
The journey between Johannesburg and Polokwane takes eight hours and to Musina, ten hours. The train will also used by Zimbabwean customers crossing the border after alighting in Musina.
Under the reopening transport services programme, the minister said that new routes will be put into commercial operation, with connections to the neighboring countries such as Johannesburg – Mafikeng and Botswana, Johannesburg – Nelspruit and Mozambique, including train services from East London to Mthatha and Durban.
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