GO!Durban buses are being tested between Bridge City and Pinetown ahead of the launch of passenger services, with motorists and pedestrians urged to take care near dedicated bus lanes and intersections.
GO!Durban buses are being tested between Bridge City and Pinetown ahead of the launch of passenger services, with motorists and pedestrians urged to take care near dedicated bus lanes and intersections.
The eThekwini Municipality has started testing and commissioning on Corridor 3 (C3), which will become the first operational route of the city's Integrated Public Transport Network.
eThekwini said residents may see buses travelling along the route and using dedicated bus lanes, but the municipality has stressed that they are being used for testing purposes and will not carry passengers.
The testing phase is intended to ensure that the infrastructure, buses, technology and operating systems work together before the service becomes operational.
This includes testing bus timetables, docking at station platforms, access control, cashless fare collection and passenger information systems.
Director of the eThekwini Transport Authority, Nelisiwe Zama, said the process was necessary to ensure the system was safe and reliable before passengers began using it.
“Testing and commissioning makes sure that GO!Durban is safe, reliable and ready before the first passenger boards a bus. This phase allows the City and its operating partners to test every part of the system together, identify any issues and resolve them before services begin,” she said.
The City explained that C3 testing follows the council's approval of the GO!Durban Business and Operational Plans on September 1, 2026, and the signing of a process agreement with representatives of the minibus taxi and bus industries.
The municipality said the start date for passenger services would be announced through its official communication channels.
In the meantime, road users have been warned not to use the dedicated bus lanes, which are reserved exclusively for GO!Durban buses.
Pedestrians have been urged to use designated crossings and avoid crossing the bus lanes, while motorists must obey traffic signals and road signs and take extra care at intersections and when turning.