Railway project to uplift Highway community

TRANSNET Freight Rail and the Heritage Route Community Project (HRCP) have joined forces to eliminate crime on the railway line between Pinetown and Inchanga.

A combined group of leaders got together in 2013 to provide a collective front to tackle security issues created by derelict properties and the overgrown rail reserve areas that wind through the Highway area.

According to Jill Clark, chairperson of the HRCP, after a proposal was sent to the CEO of Transnet Freight Rail (TRF) in May 2013, some inroads had been made and there has been positive feedback.

“To date, we managed to ensure that there are four permanent roving guards along the railway line, as well as one each at the two derelict stations -Gillitts and Botha’s Hill. TRF has also employed a bush clearing contractor, who works closely with the structure and ensures that the area is kept as clear as possible. Since the implementation of security guards at certain points of the railway line, crime in this Hillcrest railway area has dropped from significant to negligible over two years,” said Clark.

She added that the structure, HRCP, was registered as a company on 3 March so that legal agreements could be made, and is in the process of being registered as a non-profit organisation and with SARS as a public benefit organisation.

The success of the project ticks important national and provincial priorities boxes, such as security and safety on the railway line, job and skills creation, heritage importance and tourism. This is the oldest operating railway line in the country and also the steepest.

“The success of the project requires involvement and dedication from the entire community of the upper Highway area. A sense of community ‘ownership’ of the different projects will create a purpose in making sure the projects are successful. The route is a direct link between urban and rural communities. At present this is a negative link. However, if guided by all stakeholders, this link will strengthen the ties between the communities and help build positive relationships, jobs and skills development,” said Clark.

There are various focus areas of the project, which can be addressed independently only when permission and funding is granted. The focus areas include lighting and camera network infrastructure; service roads/walkways/bike paths and environmental design projects on the rail reserve; security patrols; mobile classrooms and mobile clinics; and all stations and halts to include ticket offices for trains, tourism training outlets, meeting venues for mobile clinics, classrooms and libraries, community activities, coffee shops, curio-type outlets and more.

“The HRCP has the support of community leaders as well as the SAPS and community policing forums in Kloof and Hillcrest. We truly believe we can transform this section of line and in the process create real change in our area. Historically, the installation of a railway line to a region brought with it progress and development; we aim to restore this purpose and, in doing that, provide a model which TFR can duplicate in other potential project areas,” said Clark.