Railway crossing illegal

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is up against illegal railway crossing in Soweto following many incidents last year.

PRASA chief executive officer Mosenngwa Mofi said last year they had many people from Soweto who were struck by trains near several stations.

“Most people who are killed on the railways are struck by trains, including level crossing accidents and they are not necessarily employees.

“Suicide is suspected to be the cause as it is generally easier to access the railway line given the openness of the railway system and proximity to settlements.

“The cause is largely attributed to conduct of the public rather than the operator and it would be incorrect to compare minor accidents, which lead to employee fatalities, with incidents involving people who are either struck by trains or involved in level crossing accidents.

“It is equally important to understand that the fatalities referred to by the SAIRR do not relate to our own employees as is the case within the mining sector, but are as a result of unsafe behavior by the public in our environment.

“Over the last three years joint safety campaigns have been mounted by PRASA in partnership with other investors such as Transnet Freight Rail, Railway Safety Regulator and the Railway Police to focus on areas that have the highest impact on personal safety, and we continue to prioritise these campaigns in order to reduce the number of fatalities,” he said.

Mofi said they are disappointed that the SAIRR finds the need for comparison when it comes to the loss of human life.

“Any fatality is one death too many, and all efforts must made to avoid any further fatalities and preserve the lives of our people.

“We acknowledge that safety is a challenge for any transport operator, including railways.”