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Commuters face double blow - Cosatu

Cape Town - The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Thursday that the looming fare increase by Metrorail will leave consumers reeling.

Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said the price hike will deal a double blow to commuters, who often have to spend more money using alternative transport to get to work because of train breakdowns

"The problems of the Western Cape are unique in the sense that the breakdowns are occurring more than in any other parts of the country."

He said train delays result in workers losing more of their wages due to arriving at work late.

"This is already an increase in transport expenditure. On top of this Metrorail now wants to impose a rail fare increase, when the other increases of workers’ transport cost are because of Metrorail."

Metrorail announced fare increases, which will kick-in from Tuesday July 1.

The cost of single tickets will increase by 50 cents and return tickets by R1.

Increases for weekly tickets will be between R3 and R7, while monthly tickets will jump between R7 and R30.

Metrorail said the planned increase will support improvements to the train service.

However, Ehrenreich wants the hike to be delayed until the improvements come into effect. "This delay until the system improves will cost Metrorail about R3m, which is a small amount for Metrorail, but a huge amount for commuters," he said.

Metrorail Western Cape manager Richard Walker responded to this in an earlier statement.

"The suggestion that Metrorail only increases its fares once all the infrastructural improvements have been effected is unrealistic and not supported."

He also admitted that the current service is not up to standard, adding that it was a result of fifty years of under-investment.

"The current system is collapsing right now; which is why government has over the past five years allocated Prasa R136bn to procure new trains and upgrade supporting infrastructure."

Walker warned that no price hike could force services to be cut.

Ehrenreich also called on Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters to help resolve, what he terms, "the train crisis" in the Western Cape, or face protest action.

On Wednesday, the trade union federation said it intends striking to pressure Metrorail not to increase its fares, but the rail operator replied that it is going ahead as planned.

Click on the image to see how much more you will be paying:



  - Fin24

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