PRASA puts 17 new long-distance buses on the road, first fleet buy since 2010
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy launched the City-to-City coaches in Pretoria, with 78 more planned by 2029 and the fleet renewal due for completion in 2030.
PRASA has introduced 17 new long-distance buses to its City-to-City fleet, the first acquisition of its kind since 2010, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced at the fleet’s launch in Pretoria on Thursday.
The launch formed part of October Transport Month, observed this year under the theme “Building a safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable transport system”.
The coaches carry advanced safety technology, including lane assistance, following-distance monitoring and stability systems. According to the announcement, drivers will be supported through monitoring and targeted training, and a control centre will oversee incidents en route.
Creecy said the acquisition follows a difficult restructuring process within the long-distance bus operation, involving management, organised labour, the PRASA Board and the shareholder, with sacrifices made by all parties.
“The operation is designed to run on a ring-fenced basis and to sustain itself financially,” she said.
The fleet is set to grow. A further 30 coaches are planned for the 2027/28 financial year, followed by 48 in 2028/29, bringing the total to 95 modern coaches. The fleet renewal programme is expected to be completed by 2030.
Over time, the long-distance services are intended to work alongside long-distance rail, offering families what the announcement describes as an affordable and dependable way to travel between cities, towns and rural communities.
“Whether on a suburban line or a long-distance route, our purpose remains the same: safe, reliable and affordable public transport that connects people to opportunity,” Creecy said.
According to the announcement, PRASA has also undertaken extensive work to revitalise and rebuild passenger rail, focused on restoring railway infrastructure, improving safety, upgrading signalling systems and enhancing the reliability of commuter services.
“Not only have we witnessed the rebuilding of rail within PRASA, but we have also seen significant progress within their Long-Distance Passenger Services as well as secondary mandate,” the Minister said.
The document released on the fleet does not state what the 17 buses cost, how routes will be allocated, or when the new coaches enter service. It is a government news agency summary of the launch rather than the full record of the procurement.
Source: SAnews (South African Government News Agency), PRASA boosts City-to-City fleet with 17 new buses, 15 October 2026, https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/prasa-boosts-city-city-fleet-17-new-buses
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