Written by Katleho Sekhotho
The Department of Transport is working with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to fix a ‘broken’ railway industry.
The Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula has promised that all 10 of South Africa’s railway corridors will be up and running by the end of the year.
He says as the department works with PRASA at the helm, he is convinced that where there are damages there will be repairs, and where infrastructure is needed, construction will take place.
The Minister made the promise as the country marks October Transport month.
Mbalula launched the initiative at the Pretoria train station yesterday after taking a ride from the trains start at Pienaarspoort to the capital.
The Minister’s remarks come following the tragic incident near northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pongola, which claimed the lives of 20 people, eighteen of them being school children.
The Minister reflected on the incident saying that it was the most tragic his department had seen. He says the department is working to get as many trucks off the road as possible, and more companies using the railway line to transport goods.
Meanwhile, commuters who have been using the Pretoria-Pienaarspoort line which started operations last week say they are happy so far with the service.
They have, however, noted that the train is irregular, and they don’t know where to access its timetable.
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