The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will operate a special charter train for the Comrades Marathon later this month in an effort to reduce traffic congestion on the highways.
The organisation said in a statement on Tuesday that a special charter train had revitalised its long-distance services.
Shosholoza Meyl will offer the public an alternate, safe, and affordable mode of long-distance travel that will also help with accommodations and relieve traffic congestion on our roads, according to PRASA.
This is due to the high demand for lodging and traffic volumes surrounding the Comrades Marathon event in KwaZulu-Natal (Durban).
On August 26 through August 29, 2022, the Shosholoza Meyl services will operate a special charter train for the Comrades Marathon by providing clients with two packages, one geared toward consumers who desire something extra and the other for the budget-conscious traveller.
The Comrades Marathon’s supporters, competitors who wish to bring their families, and passengers who want to go to Durban but aren’t participating in the Comrades Marathon can all use the charter service, according to PRASA.
Improved customer experience, customer and employee health and safety, as well as safe, inexpensive, and dependable travel, will receive special attention.
The following are the package costs and options:
- Luxury Premier Class package: (includes bedding, meals and accommodation on the train) – R2 560 p/person (to KwaZulu-Natal and back).
- Shosholza Meyl packages: (includes bedding, accommodation on the train) – R870 p/person (meals will be available for customers on own account).
Customers are recommended to reserve and complete their travel plans well in advance by phoning PRASA’s sales agents because there won’t be much lodging available.
- Hlonipha or Mphonyana (011 – 013 0486)
- Pfarelo (012) 315 2090 / (012) 748 7362
- Lesibana ( 015) 299 6205
One of the cornerstones of the PRASA Division Shosholoza Meyl’s turnaround strategy for long-distance rail services is revenue generating through special charter trains.
The long-distance service to KwaZulu-Natal was previously suspended due to logistical and operational challenges, and preliminary work has been done as a result.
The engineering teams from PRASA and Transnet have successfully finished the necessary repairs to the train infrastructure.