PRASA responds to train commuters’ concerns

OVERCROWDING on peak hour trains travelling from Durban townships and suburbs into the Central Business District has raised concerns amongst commuters.

Over recent years, delays and overcrowding issues on trains have impacted negatively on the lives of hundreds of train commuters, particularly in Durban. Commuters who use trains to travel to and from work are constantly subjected to unsafe and perpetually delayed and overcrowded trains. Commuters using the Umlazi – Durban line say they face nothing short of a horror story with appalling railway infrastructure and constant breakdowns of railway services which are detrimental to their livelihoods.

Responding to complaints and concerts raised by commuters, the Public Rail Agency of South Africa spokesperson, Zama Nomnganga told Berea Mail that the company was aware of the challenges commuters faced.

“This has been going on for some time as our rolling stock (trains) and infrastructure are old,” he said, adding that that the non-availability of components for aging trains and infrustructure was largely responsible for the ongoing delays.

ALSO READ: Task team calls for action on homelessness

“This is due to the few companies that make or refurbish them. We are doing our best to manage the situation. We have decided as the Provincial Office to re-look at the planning and distribution of train sets by having a split service. This means that Umlazi will have their own dedicated sets going from Umlazi to Dalbridge, and KwaMashu will have its own sets moving from KwaMashu to Durban Station. We hope this will address the over-crowding on those two demanding corridors as they carry the heaviest loads, in particular the Umlazi to Berea route.”

He added that PRASA was in the process of bringing new rolling stock to the province and hoped to launch a brand new set of trains before year end. He said the new trains would be on display at Durban Station so that the community could see what they looked like and how they would operate.

“Plans to rehabilitate the infrastructure is on the cards and we have started replacing old tracks in some areas. The Signalling Project will resume soon which will make our service reliable and safe,” he said.

The Department of Transport has confirmed that it is in the process of developing rail policy to take the transformation forward. In the meantime, PRASA assures commuters that their complaints and concerns have not fallen on deaf ears and that contingency plans are in motion.

Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.

To receive our free newsletter click here.