Raising consumer safety and maximising crime prevention are the targets of a national rail-safety campaign launched on Tuesday, said Metrorail.
The campaign focuses on staff riding, train surfing, cable theft and standing behind the yellow safety line, said CEO Lucky Tshepo Montana.
More than 100 volunteers will help with safety and 30 former staff riders and train surfers now act as safety ambassadors.
The latter are to restore social order and build social consciousness that ”trains cannot be used as playing fields and moving explosives”, he said in a copy of his speech.
Two staff riders and train surfers were electrocuted this month.
Staff riders try to get into a moving train and train surfers ride the top of trains.
An amount of R20-million is spent annually on arson, vandalism and theft.
This month, R200 000 went towards medical and funeral expenses when 20 people died after a truck collided with a train at a level crossing.
”Suicidal dangers” exist with standing on the yellow safety line, and cable theft compromises getting people to work on time and leads to job losses, Montana said.
Cape Town figures show a 68% drop in crime since railway police were introduced, and almost 19 000 cases have been processed.
Four hundred police officers work at Western Cape stations and a target of deploying 5 000 railway police in all stations by 2008 is on course.
Montana said rail travel can reduce congestion as a full train will replace over 100 taxis or 300 to 380 cars on the road.
Motor-vehicle emission can be reduced by as much as 80% and rail occupies three times less space than road transport, he said.
Spokesperson Pule Mabe said R2-million will be spent over the next two months on raising safety levels.
A number of safety awareness campaigns will be held throughout the country.
The South African Rail Commuter Corporation Metrorail carries about 2,5-million passengers daily, its website said. — Sapa