Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu is expected to announce the date for the resumption of the award-winning Kei Rail passenger service between East London and Mthatha at 14h00 today.
This announcement will be made during the “Take a Girl Child to Work campaign” media briefing to be held at the Department of Transport Head Office in Shornville, King Williams Town.
The Kei Rail project already has a socio-economic impact as the department is currently running a learnership on rail studies, which is being conducted within the Centre for Rail Studies that is situated at the Walter Sisulu University. The centre is an initiative of the department and presently there are 39 learners, who are receiving training towards the following qualifications:
- 13 Track Masters
- 14 Train Managers and
- Seven Train Drivers
The Track Masters are currently doing their on-the-job training with Transnet, working at the railway track between East London and Cathcart. Five of the learner-Track Masters are doing outstandingly well, rating amongst the country’s best.
There are five additional trainees, who will be deployed in the train operations control room.
Train Managers will be undergoing a refresher-training in preparation for the resumption of Kei Rail passenger services next month.
Train drivers, which have been trained up to Train Driver Assistant level, will also be undergoing training with Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to upgrade their qualification to Train Drivers.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 5626 023
Source: Eastern Cape Transport
