Cape Town – The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) on Tuesday re-opened the southern line that had been closed owing to vandalism of infrastructure.
Speaking at the signalling ceremony of the Southern Line and launch of train set 200, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said: “Reopening this line as timely represents the urgency in our step to heed these needs”.
The minister added: “The reopening of this line represents a positive state in which as a nation, as communities, and as commuters, we must all feel our needs served by this line because among us many have aspirations for affordable, safe, and reliable public transport”.
“Today, we celebrate more achievements and milestones in the passenger rail sector in the three decades we have been in government.
“Last week Friday I was in Soweto following the successful reopening of the Nancefield to Johannesburg line.”
The mass vandalism and destruction of PRASA infrastructure, especially during the Covid-19 shutdowns, resulted in vast sections of the infrastructure being closed due to a lack of electrical lines.
“PRASA has reopened 31 of the 40 corridors it operates in, and the work to revitalise the passenger rail service continues,” revealed Minister Chikunga.
“This morning I want to say that PRASA’s turnaround and the new trains that we are running on the recovered corridors marks a pivotal chapter in South Africa’s rail revitalsation.
“Though vandalism and theft of the rail infrastructure threatened to reverse our gains and efforts, I am pleased by the progress made by PRASA in recovering the infrastructure and restoring a reliable passenger rail service that we can all be proud of.”
The minister said PRASA was making significant strides in restoring passenger rail services.
“The region has 14 lines across five municipalities, not just in the City of Cape Town. To date, PRASA has partially recovered 12 of the 14 lines,” said Minister Chikunga.
When PRASA suffered massive theft and vandalism of the rail infrastructure, the newly installed state-of-the-art electronic interlocking and signaling equipment was not spared.
In rebuilding the rail infrastructure, PRASA was re-installing the stolen and vandalised signaling equipment.
PRASA was re-signaling the network in phases and the rebuilding project was expected to take seven years to complete.
This involves installing a state-of-the-art signaling system, including PRASA train control systems in line with the European Rail Traffic Management System.
The develpment will ensure that PRASA runs trains more efficiently, improving service frequency and enhancing the safe passage of trains on the rail network.
“We observed this morning how signaling improves efficiency and frequency on the Southern Line,” the minister said.
PRASA has re-signaled 24 of the 39 stations from Cape Town to Simonstown.
This means the train speed has been increased from 30km/hr to 75km/hr, commuters getting to their destination much faster.
When there was no signaling on the line, trains were running every 90 minutes and the trip to Cape Town station was one hour and 10 minutes.
PRASA has reduced the journey time to 45 minutes and trains run every 20 minutes.
“The impact in real terms is PRASA has now increased the number of trains it runs during peak from three to nine trains,” said Minister Chikunga.
“This demonstrates our commitment to listen to South African commuters, who have told me in the past that: ‘Minister, we love the trains. But can PRASA increase the frequency’.”
She added: “No more will a commuter who missed a train, have to wait for one hour and 10 minutes to catch the next train because another train will be available within 20 minutes.
“We are improving efficiency and making sure that PRASA delivers a reliable and punctual commuter rail service that commuters can depend on, improve on-time performance and minimise disruptions.”
Nationally, PRASA has re-signalled six of the lines it operates.
These lines include:
- Mabopane – Pretoria
- Saulsville – Pretoria
- Pretoria – De Wildt
- Cape Town – Simonstown
- Mutual – Langa
- Umlazi – Reunion
The minister said work was underway to upgrade signaling in KwaZulu Natal.
PRASA has a 10-year contract with the Gibela consortium for the manufacture of 600 X’trapolis Mega Electric Multiple Units, named Isitimela Sabantu.
“Today, PRASA has reached a production milestone with 214 X’trapolis Mega Trains manufactured at the state-of-the-art facility constructed in Dunnottar is a significant investment towards the country’s industrialisation programme,” Minister Chikunga said.
“The first train set hit our railway tracks in February 2017.
“Today, we celebrate this progress made towards the overarching goal of 600 trains.”
The minister also launched train set 200 at the re-opening of the Southern line.
She was accompanied at the ceremony byDirector General of The Department of Transport Advocate James Mlawu, Deputy Director General of the Department of Transport Ngwako Makaepea,
Chairperson of the PRASA Board Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo and Group CEO of PRASA Hishaam Emeran.
