Citizen Online
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
JOHANNESBURG - Raising consumer safety and maximising crime prevention are the targets of a national rail safety campaign launched on Tuesday, said SARCC Metrorail.
The campaign focuses on "sparapara-staff" riding, train surfing, cable theft and standing behind the yellow safety line, said CEO Lucky Tshepo Montana.
More than 100 volunteers would help with safety and 30 former staff riders and train surfers now acted as safety ambassadors.
The latter was 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.
R20 million was spent annually on arson, vandalism and theft.
This month R200 000 went towards medical and funeral expenses when 20 died after a truck collided with a train at a level crossing.
"Suicidal dangers" existed with standing on the yellow safety line, and cable theft compromised getting people to work on time and led to job loss, Montana said.
Cape Town figures had shown a drop in crime by 68 percent since Railway Police were introduced and almost 19 000 cases had been processed.
Four hundred police officers worked at Western Cape stations and a target of deploying 5 000 Railway Police in all stations by 2008 was on course.
Montana said rail travel could reduce congestion as a full train would replace over 100 taxis or 300 to 380 cars on the road.
Motor car emission could be reduced by as much as 80 percent and rail occupied three times less space than road transport, he said.
Spokesman Pule Mabe said R2 million would be spent over the next two months on raising safety levels.
A number of safety awareness campaigns would be held throughout the country.
The South African Rail Commuter Corporation Metrorail, a department of Transport agency, carries about 2.5 million passengers daily, its website said. - Sapa