Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ditch the car, save a few litres of petrol and enjoy your country's magnificent scenery on a safe, efficient and cost-effective journey to work, thanks to some form of pleasantly punctual public transport?

Well, IF (and we think the capitalisation is justified here) government fulfils its ambitions for the nation's public transport system, you may not be wondering for all that much longer.

Nobody can deny that South Africa's public transport structures have been in desperate need of an overhaul for quite some time now.

And when the country was awarded the rights to host the 2010 World Cup, a "vastly improved public transport system" was promised by government as the impressive-sounding 2010 Transport Action Plan was rolled out.

Is public transport usable?

With the showpiece event looming large, visitors from all over the world are preparing to descend on our country like tow-trucks to an accident scene.

But perhaps of more interest to many citizens is the much talked about 'lasting legacy' that is intended to benefit the country for years to come. Will we have a reliable, first-class public transport system to rival the developed world once the orchestra of vuvuzelas fades? Or will it be 'more of the same' for South Africa's beleaguered travelling Joe Public?

Problems to solve

To be brutally honest, there are a number of problems to overcome in what has become a remarkably short space of time. Violent taxi strikes regularly leave commuters stranded. The battle over bus subsidies reached boiling point recently. Accident after accident occurs on our roads, a shocking number caused by overloaded taxis and busses which are about as roadworthy as an exercise bike.

And what about the railways, you ask? Well, boarding a Metrorail train is like prodding the 'circa 1980' button on a time machine... welcome to rail technology from some 30 years back. South Africa's passenger trains were in fact built between 1962 and 1985, and used from new in other countries before eventually becoming the hand-me-downs regular commuters begrudgingly board every day.

Authorities began refurbishing these yellow and grey perils a decade ago, replacing the upper structures with new prefabricated wall and roof modules, while retaining the original chassis. Unfortunately, it's really a case of a nip and tuck instead of a true upgrade.

Progress appears to be being made on the Gautrain Rapid Rail link, but what about the rest of the country?

Almost every week there are reports of fatalities at level crossings or indeed anywhere along the tracks. Then, of course, there's the possibility of being robbed on your rail adventure — if your train makes it to the station before the cables are stolen, that is.

And what about domestic aviation? Do we even have to mention the letters S, A and A?

A promise we make...

So, it's all bad news, right? Well, not necessarily. In 'The Government's Promise' the Department of Transport pledges "to provide a fleet of 2035 luxury and standard buses, 60 train sets and 1000 bus coaches" for the main event in 2010. And once the tournament is a thing of the past, these vehicles are to be used for local communities.

Also key to the overall development is the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system, of which the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system forms a major facet, and which has had taxi operators up in arms. The IRT is intended to link all modes of public transport, while also enjoying preferential treatment over private transport. While dedicated lanes may raise the blood-pressure of the everyday motorist, it makes plenty of sense when attempting to put together a smooth-running system.

Back on the tracks, government has committed that by 2010 a train will be available every five minutes in peak times and train services will run between 14 and 16 hours a day. A similar, if not slightly more intense, strategy is expected from the bus sector.

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced in his recent Budget Speech that an additional R6.4 billion (over and above the bucket-loads of cash already allocated) would be set aside for public transport, roads and rail networks in the build-up to the event.

It should also be noted that all major airports in the country are being refurbished or rebuilt, with IRT stations as well as metered taxis and bus services to be placed in close proximity.

'Intelligent' systems

Traffic management centres will be set up in major cities, allowing integrated control over all forms of transport through a system of CCTV cameras and remote traffic monitoring systems. Intelligent monitoring of and power over city-wide road and rail happenings? Now we're talking!

Plenty of plans and promises have been made, but it must be kept in mind that the upgrades and additions can only take place in stages. For instance, the City of Cape Town plans to establish an extensive IRT network over a period of 10 to 12 years, after laying the groundwork in time to service the needs of the tournament.

Indeed, while the system is being designed to cope with throngs of soccer-mad tourists for a month of tightly-packed action, the theory is that it should keep improving in the years to come.

So, bear with the travel restrictions, unprecedented congestion and dodgy tourists during the 2010 World Cup and you may just find yourself wondering how you ever lived without the benefits of public transport.

Are you yearning for a decent public transport system? Do you think the upgrades will take place in time for 2010? Share your thoughts below…