The City of Cape Town (COCT) and the company responsible for the N2 Express bus service are preparing the fleet that will resume operations between Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and the Cape Town CBD later this month.
The preparations come after a new operating contract was signed with the N2 Company, equally owned by the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association.
The N2 Express service, which provided affordable, regular, and scheduled public transport between the three areas was suspended at the end of May 2019.
According to the COCT, the preparations for the resumption includes inspecting and servicing the buses, as well as preparing the fleet for roadworthy testing and licensing. The City says, the fleet consists of 34 buses, a combination of 12-metre low-floor buses and 18-metre low-floor buses, that will travel to the Civic Centre station via the N2 freeway.
Also read: MyCiti’s N2 Express service to resume in February
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas further mentioned that he is impressed by the developments made in getting the service up and running again.
“I went to the depot in Epping where engineering staff are busy servicing the fleet and preparing the buses for operations.
“I wanted to see for myself what the inspections entail, and I must say I was impressed by how thorough the process is, and the care is taken to ensure that everything is tiptop,” Quintas said.
According to Quintas, every bus is inspected for mechanical and electrical faults, as is the exterior bodywork and interior.
“They are also inspecting the tyres, batteries, doors, ramps, communication devices, bells, seats, and the on-board validators where the passengers tap in and out, as well as the cameras. Thereafter, the buses will be deep cleaned and fumigated and washed, and then taken for roadworthy testing and licensing,” Quintas added.
Meanwhile, with the resumption of the N2 Express service, more than 6 000 commuters from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha will benefit once the buses are back on the road.
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Picture: COCT