BDFM Online
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Public Policy Correspondent
GOVERNMENT may recapitalise Metrorail as part of its strategy to improve public transport and make it the transport mode of choice for both rich and poor.
Speaking at the launch of Metrorail's refurbished coaches in Pretoria yesterday, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said government was considering recapitalising the commuter rail service in a bid to make it more attractive.
He said although the focus was now on ensuring that the public transport system was functioning properly before the 2010 World Cup, government's long-term investment plan was to look beyond that.
"Our economy essentially depends on the effectiveness of public transport infrastructure planning and services," Radebe said.
A new public transport master plan would be unveiled in January next year, he said.
Metrorail has previously said it will need about R65bn to overhaul the entire commuter rail system over the next 30 years.
The national treasury has already allocated R3,5bn to the transport department to upgrade railway and road infrastructure ahead of the World Cup.
Metrorail CEO Lucky Montana said the upgraded coaches, called the 10M5, were part of an accelerated rolling stock programme which was aimed at turning the parastatal around.
Montana said Metrorail had spent R40m in refurbishing the first set of 12 coaches which would be used in the Witwatersrand region. An additional 1600 coaches will be refurbished at the cost of R1bn ar year over the next three years.
The 10M5s have improved passenger sliding doors which warn commuters when doors are closing, and cannot be opened while the train is in motion. This will help reduce the high rate of children who die each every year while trying to "surf" commuter trains.
Montana said all coaches would also be air-conditioned and would be fitted with public address systems and emergency lights that could be used in a power failure.
Montana said Metrorail was also considering buying a new fleet of locomotives to replace its 30-year- old machines.
Metrorail was currently operating on a "knife edge" due to its ageing infrastructure, he said. Of Metrorail's 4600 coaches, only 3200 were operational.
"This has seen rising levels of customer dissatisfaction, which has contributed to recent acts of arson against key rail assets, as well as decreasing ridership," the Metrorail CEO said.