Golden Arrow Bus Services plans to grow its electric bus fleet and add new technology for passengers, as the Cape Town company marks 165 years of public transport.
The company said it intends to keep buying up to 60 new buses every year. This is part of a programme to replace older vehicles and meet the city’s changing transport needs.
“Maintaining a reliable service requires ongoing investment in new vehicles, alongside the proper maintenance of our existing fleet,” said Golden Arrow public relations manager Bronwen Dyke-Beyer.
Golden Arrow now runs 120 electric buses in Cape Town. The buses came from Chinese manufacturer BYD under an agreement between the two companies.
The electric fleet was rolled out during 2025. It now serves several communities across the city.
In September, the Western Cape Government confirmed that Golden Arrow wants to add more electric buses during 2027. The government said this depends on whether funding is available and affordable.
Dyke-Beyer described the arrival of electric passenger buses as a big moment for the company and for public transport in South Africa.
The company is also looking at changes inside its buses. These include free onboard Wi-Fi, mobile payment options and the chance to buy tickets online.
Golden Arrow has not said when these services might start. It also has not said which routes would get them first.
The company is exploring artificial intelligence to help plan bus schedules. Digital systems could also help it manage the fleet, plan maintenance and run daily operations.
The plans come as Golden Arrow faces higher costs. Prices for fuel, vehicle parts, maintenance, tyres and wages have all gone up.
Golden Arrow has spoken before about how these costs affect fares. After a jump in fuel prices, both Golden Arrow and MyCiTi held off on further fare increases.
Traffic is another problem. Cape Town’s growing residential areas and busier roads are making bus journeys take longer.
Dyke-Beyer said congestion had cut the number of trips a bus can make during peak hours. A bus that managed five peak trips a day 10 years ago might now complete only three, she said.
This means the company needs more buses and more resources just to keep the same level of service, she said.
“Balancing these competing demands is an ongoing challenge,” Dyke-Beyer said. She was referring to rising running costs and the need to keep public transport affordable.
Golden Arrow’s history goes back to 1861. Over the years it moved from horse-drawn trams to electric trams and then to motorised buses.
According to the company’s historical records, it brought electric trams to Cape Town in 1896.
Dyke-Beyer said the company would keep adapting to changes in the transport industry while putting passenger needs first.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL. Image: IOL. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Technology desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Werner Jacobs covers technology for Tzaneen Voice. Werner reports on mobile networks, data prices, internet access, smartphones, apps, AI, cybersecurity and South African tech companies. Each story explains what a new product, price change or policy means for ordinary users in South Africa.