For rail commuters in Kuils River, the long journey into Cape Town – or anywhere in-between – now begins with a newly upgraded rail station that is now also a Park and Ride interchange, with 145 more vehicle parking bays, a bicycle lock-up facility and an improved pedestrian walkway.

The Park and Ride concept, which encourages motorists to park their car at a rail station, then take the train to their final destination (and complete their return journey in the same way), is one of the City’s flagship programmes that aims to integrate public, private and non-motorised (walking and cycling) transport. The better start and end facilities are designed to make the concept more appealing for commuters. Upgrades and extensions will soon start at Monte Vista, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Retreat, Fish Hoek, Oosterzee, Lansdowne and Eerste River train stations.

The programme is part of the City’s Travel Demand Management (TDM) Strategy, which promotes more sustainable travel modes and practises, in order to reduce the overall number of trips undertaken by private vehicle (especially vehicles with only one occupant, the driver). This strategy links to the City’s Integrated Transport Plan (ITP), which sets out the City’s plan to deliver a world-class sustainable transport system for Cape Town. It aims particularly to improve public transport, integrate public, private and non-motorised transport, reduce the number of private cars on our roads, and to give residents high-quality travel choices.

Work on the stations will include:

• An additional 100 parking bays and improved pedestrian crossings at Brackenfell
• Parking area upgrades, along with substantial improvements to the forecourt for pedestrians at Kraaifontein and Monte Vista
  
• An upgrade to the parking area at the Retreat rail station, along with bicycle cycle lock-up facilities
• An 80 additional parking bays at Ottery, as well as improvements to the forecourt for pedestrians

Eventually the Park and Rides will offer a comfortable, pleasant place to wait while commuters switch between private car, taxi, bus, bicycle and train.

The Cape Town rail stations listed below all have some Park and Ride facilities, even if only a few parking bays: