Transportation

Securing the future of electric bus transport

Organization: Golden Arrow Bus Services

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Customer need: Remote monitoring, Perimeter and area security

Cape Town, South Africa, 2026

Golden Arrow Bus Services implemented an integrated video surveillance and access control solution at its electric bus depot to improve safety, protect critical infrastructure, and enhance operational visibility for a fleet serving more than 230,000 daily passengers.

Golden Arrow Bus Services

For more than 160 years, Golden Arrow Bus Services has played an important role in keeping Cape Town moving. Every day, around 230,000 people rely on its buses to travel to work, school, and essential services.

As the city continues to grow, the demand for reliable and sustainable public transport is increasing. To support this, Golden Arrow has invested in electric buses and developed one of the largest electric bus charging facilities in Africa at its Arrowgate depot.

The site includes extensive charging infrastructure supported by solar energy, helping power a growing fleet of zero-emission buses while reducing environmental impact.

However, managing such a complex and high-capacity depot required a modern approach to security and operational monitoring.

Managing a complex depot environment

Electric bus depots introduce new operational challenges. High-voltage charging infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and continuous vehicle movement create a complex environment that must operate safely and efficiently.

Golden Arrow needed a solution that could monitor activity across the entire site while also supporting operational decision-making.

“We operate a busy environment with buses arriving and departing at all hours,” explains a Golden Arrow representative. “Having clear visibility across the depot is essential for both safety and operations.”

“We operate a busy environment with buses arriving and departing at all hours. Having clear visibility across the depot is essential for both safety and operations.”

Bradley Geduldt

Divisional Engineer at Golden Arrow Bus Services

An integrated monitoring solution

To address these challenges, Golden Arrow implemented an integrated system combining network video surveillance, access control, and centralized video management in Axis Camera Station.

High-resolution network cameras provide coverage across the depot, monitoring the perimeter, vehicle entry points, bus bays, and charging infrastructure. This layered approach allows security teams to maintain visibility across the entire facility.

Access control devices manage entry points for employees and service personnel, while integration with the video management platform allows operators to visually verify events and investigate alarms through a single interface.

Improving safety and operational efficiency

The integrated system provides clear operational and security benefits for the depot.

High-quality video allows staff to quickly verify incidents and retrieve footage when required, improving investigation processes and reporting.

The ability to detect issues earlier helps maintenance teams address potential problems before they impact service availability. At the same time, improved visibility across the depot allows teams to better manage vehicle movements and charging operations.

“The level of video detail means we can clearly understand what happened during an incident,” says Bradley. “It helps us respond faster and manage the depot more effectively.”

Supporting sustainable transport

Golden Arrow’s investment in electric buses reflects a long-term commitment to sustainable public transport.

By combining renewable energy infrastructure with modern security and monitoring technology, the company has created a resilient depot capable of supporting the continued expansion of electric mobility.

The integrated solution helps ensure that operations remain safe, efficient, and reliable while protecting the infrastructure that supports the electric fleet.

As cities worldwide transition toward cleaner transportation systems, Golden Arrow’s approach demonstrates how smart technology can support the future of public transport.

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