With proper investment and management, railways can be made the backbone of the transport system in South Africa, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said on Tuesday.
”We cannot be complacent until our economy is aggressively driven by an overall competitive and sustainable public transport system,” the minister said at the launch of the new ”10M5” trains in Pretoria.
The new trains are to help address continuing overcrowding, and train cancellations that leave commuters stranded.
”We are aware of the challenges of safety, security and passenger comfort and the 10M5 will address these issues.”
Features of the trains include a warning system to warn commuters when doors are closing, emergency lighting in case of power failures and doors that cannot be opened while the train is in motion.
The train will also have a heating system and temperature control.
Radebe said South Africa’s economy essentially depended on the effectiveness of public transport-infrastructure planning and services.
He said the accelerated rolling-stock programme will continue its upgrading of the 10M5 ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and beyond.
About 1,6-million commuters use Metrorail on a daily basis.
Trains are an efficient mass people mover (a full rail coach transports between 85 and 120 people). Traffic congestion and motor-car emissions could be reduced by using rail transport.
Measures to minimise accidents, such as good signalling systems, technical training of rail staff and warning systems to alert traffic that interferes with the rail-crossing system will be put in place.
The 10M5 design will be used in the Western Cape, Tshwane and Durban while the Witwatersrand will use a ”10M4” design.
About 1 600 coaches will be refurbished over the next three years at a cost of R1-billion per year. — Sapa