The Gauteng Metrorail service has increased its train capacity from 30% to 52%.
This increase affects the Pienaarspoort and Pretoria corridor.
The rail agency reduced the train service commuters in Tshwane in July after it shut-down because of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Gauteng Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the rail operator was pleased to announce that it had reviewed its train capacity and increased it with immediate effect to 52%.
The commuters accommodated on board per train were formally 486 but wit the 52% increase, it will allow a maximum of 1,161 commuters per train to ensure adherence to the social distancing requirements.
#MetrorailCares#DoYourPart#MaintainSocialDistancing#WearAMask pic.twitter.com/xpCWXBc6ZC
— metrorailGauteng (@metrorailgp) August 5, 2020
Mofokeng said this reviewed capacity was a reaction to the revised Level 3 Covid-19 public transport regulations by government which increased the capacity of commuters in a train to 70% from the initial 30%.
“This increased capacity will also contribute positively in addressing the service demand from commuters on the Pienaarspoort-Pretoria corridor where many commuters were previously turned away due to the initial limited capacity that was allowed per train.”
She said the services would operate only on weekdays. In the morning peak 5am-9am and during afternoon peak 3pm-7pm.
The train servicing commuters can only stop at eight key stations, which were Pienaarspoort, Mamelodi Gardens, Eerste Fabrieke, Denneboom, Silverton, Koedoespoort, Rissik and Pretoria.
