Minister of Transport, Tshwane
20 November 2006
Executive Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa
MEC Ignatius Jacobs
SARCC CEO, Lucky Montana
Chairperson of SARCC Board Zukile Nomvete
SARCC Board Members
Councillors present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The acceleration of rolling stock by the South African Rail Commuter
Corporation (SARCC) Metrorail is a crucial programme in the development of
South Africa's goods and passenger rail system. Our economy essentially depends
on the effectiveness of public transport infrastructure planning and services.
Through this course of action we need to drastically pursue our Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and our first and second
economy interventions with special investment plans in our infrastructure and
our rail system is not an exception.
The 10M5 coaches that are in the picture today is a milestone in the SARCC
Metrorail coach-upgrading programme, and we cannot be complacent until our
economy is aggressively driven by an overall competitive and sustainable public
transport system.
The SARCC Metrorail's Accelerated Rolling Stock Programme will continue to
put its weight on rail infrastructure and fleet upgrading especially the 10M5
ahead of the 2010 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World
Cup as well as future plans for passenger and goods demands. This is an urgent
matter as part of the revitalisation programme of our rail transport system.
The company has invested about R40 million towards the upgrading programme. In
the future we must consider operating our coaches for 18 as opposed to the
current 10 hours. Over the next three years, as part of meeting 2010 passenger
needs, we will refurbish 1600 coaches currently operational. While we welcome
and acknowledge the rational behind standardization of our trains into the
10M4's and 10M5, which enhances better customer services, there is a need that
as we look into the future beyond 2010, we consider recapitalising our
trains.
Ladies and gentlemen our revitalisation plan is immense and is aimed at
spending billions of rands on upgrading leading to the 2010 FIFA world Cup. The
new revitalised 10M5 trains must help us in the short-term address the ongoing
challenge of overcrowding inside our trains, train cancellations which at times
leaves commuters stranded. This train with three doors per coach also provide
for proper passenger movement. The SARCC-Metrorail rolling stock modernising
programme started in 1999. The first set of the 10M4 coaches were delivered in
Gauteng in the second half of 2001. In 2002 the 10M3 were delivered in Cape
Town. During Transport Month last year, a further 36 coaches were delivered in
KwaZulu-Natal.
We are aware of the challenges of safety, security and passenger comfort.
The 10M5 coach will address issues of safety and comfort and sustainability. We
will work with Municipalities and Provincial Local Governments to ensure that
we have enough coaches in services to cope with passenger demands.
The train we are assembling is boosted with the following features:
* safety features
* a complete new body and improved commuter comfort
* control systems constructed from an innovative modular manufacturing
system.
As an offshoot to these features, commuters will enjoy better seating,
lighting suitable for reading and ventilation, improved braking and electronic
interiors. The 10M5 design will be used in the Western Cape, Tshwane and Durban
while Wits will utilise the 10M4 design. As the above programme develops, more
and more of these trains will be seen nationally.
The general overhaul and purchasing of new coaches is well placed to affirm
the continued strength of rail which includes:
* Efficient mass people mover (A full rail coach which transports between 85
and 120 people).
* Reduction in congestion â A full train would place over 100 taxis or 300 to
380 cars on our roads.
* Reduction of motorcar emissions by 80% as rail uses electricity.
I must stress that intermodal transport is one of the fundamental objectives
of my department, as it will create a national transport infrastructure of
accessible, appropriate and reliable facilities that will provide easy access
and meet peoples' demands. My department is also taking safety and security
interventions to minimise accidents within the rail system such as good
signalling systems, technical training of rail staff and warning systems to
alert traffic that interfere with the rail crossing systems.
Most of you are aware that we recently witnessed a tragic train accident in
Cape Town when one of our coaches collided with a truck transporting farm
workers. The accident has to date claimed about 20 lives, injuring more than 10
passengers. Our heartfelt condolences to families and friends, in this regard
government is working earnestly to ensure that stringent safety measures are
put in place to prevent such incidents and to make sure that they are minimised
in our rail commuter systems. The new coaches are an answer to addressing the
ageing commuter rail fleet.
This new brand train set has cost the SARCC-Metrorail R40 million to
refurbish it to this world-class status.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, I must emphasise that the new 10M5 marks
another success in SARCC-Metrorail's commitment to enhancing commuter rail
transformation through a better and reliable infrastructure and rolling stock
programme. Our commitment to halve poverty by 2014 requires us to extensively
invest in all sectors of the economy and achieve competitive growth. This calls
for both government and the private sector and the public to utilise available
resources economically to the benefit of everyone.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
20 November 2006
