One of the great success stories to emerge from the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been the Rea Vaya – Johannesburg’s new rapid bus system that whisks fans from points across the city to games at two host stadiums, Soccer City and Ellis Park.

(Miss World finalists with and FIFA’s Danny Jordaan and Jerome Valcke using the Rea Vaya)

FIFA general-secretary, Jerome Valcke, and FIFA Local Organising Committee chief executive, Danny Jordaan, and were among those who took the Rea Vaya bus to Soccer City to see the game between Brazil and the Ivory Coast.

They were also joined by 32 Miss World finalists, who are in South Africa for the duration of World Cup to support their respective teams.

(FIFA general-secretary, Jerome Valcke, and FIFA Local Organising Committee chief executive, Danny Jordaan on board the Rea Vaya)

The mayoral committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee, and the executive director of Johannesburg’s 2010 Office, Sibongile Mazibuko were at Westgate Station to greet them before the start of the game.

Fast, safe, affordable and reliable, the Rea Vaya BRT has been proving the transport means of choice for football fans. It network features a middle lane for large, hi-tech buses which will transport passengers comfortably and quickly around Johannesburg using specific designated routes, enclosed bus stations along the routes and a hi-tech control centre to ensure a world-class experience.

(FIFA general-secretary, Jerome Valcke, and World Travel Awards president and founder, Graham Cooke)

Hundreds of volunteers are helping out during the tournament, and are on hand to greet and help the fans. Dressed in bright yellow, with the Joburg and FIFA logos emblazoned on their shirts, they are determined to make the experience as smooth as possible for the visitors. They are backed up by the Rea Vaya station ambassadors, dressed in vibrant red jackets.

A pocket-size match day transport guide from the City of Johannesburg and a magazine loaded with information about Rea Vaya are handed out before the fans get their return tickets checked.

(Miss Australia and Miss Germany on the Rea Vaya Joburg)

Buses arrive regularly, long before the match is due to kick off. LCD screens remind spectators to note the station name where they disembark at the stadium.

Smaller feeder buses bring people from the outer areas to the stations on the trunk routes. This extends Rea Vaya’s network to areas far beyond the main trunk routes. Buses are either 75 or 112 capacity vehicles, depending on passenger volumes and operate from about 150 stations, positioned half a kilometre apart. They run every three minutes in peak times and every 10 minutes in off-peak times and operate catch from 5am to midnight.

(World-class transport for world-class football)

Beauty with a Purpose
The 32 Miss World finalists are supporting Johannesburg Tourism Company as part of the Joburg Rocks campaign, sharing their World Cup experiences in the City of Gold with millions of football fans.

The beauty queens are based in the heart of the action – Melrose Park, one of the designated Johannesburg fan zones. The Joburg Rocks campaign includes a series of events such as the Festival of Africa which embraces African music, dance, food and history.

For further details on Rea Vaya visit www.reavaya.org.za