With urbanisation progressing at breakneck speed, particularly in developed countries, Prasa is at the forefront in ensuring that it seeks to revive rail, as a backbone of public transport, by expanding its networks and services. These include new rail expansion, upgrading and modernisation of existing infrastructure and stations, as well as rail technology advancements.
The KwaZulu-Natal prioritised list of rail service and network expansion interventions will in the medium to long-term focus on providing more capacity to accommodate forecast growth, transform the rail product in many corridors, seek to make better use of the network, and proposed corridor extension to new or growing settlements.
KwaZulu-Natal is fast experiencing some of the investment in public transport infrastructure, such as Prasa’s Bridge City Rail link, the introduction of the Business Express train between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, as well as the signaling system and depot modernisation projects.
Prasa has embarked on station modernisation for the upgrade of 30 stations, remodeling and upgrade of Berea Road station as a major CBD intermodal transport hub, including Umlazi and Duffs Road stations. In preparation for the new rolling stock, Springfield and Durban Yards will be upgraded accordingly. The construction of the Rossburgh Central Control Centre is part of Prasa’s national signaling upgrade.
A rail link is proposed for the Dube Trade Port and King Shaka International Airport and the development of an interim Metrorail station at Nyaninga/Verulem, with bus feeder to the airport, and a rail connection between the airport and Durban Central Business District, as well as north to Ballito to facilitate connectivity at a regional level. The feasibility of rail service expansion opportunities on existing rail infrastructure, branch lines, e.g. Northern lines is being reviewed.
Our commitment as Prasa is improving integration between rail and other public transport modes. A Provincial Rail Steering Committee has been established to oversee the implementation of strategic rail projects.”