The award-winning Kei Rail Project has recorded more than 100 000 passengers since its inception in 2008. This was announced yesterday by Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Hon Ghishma Barry, during the debate of the Department of Transport's annual report at the Provincial Legislature.
Between 1 March 2008 and 29 February 2009, the Kei Rail Weekend Passenger Service transported 7 306 people.
Since the introduction of the daily service on 1 March 2009 to 31 October 2009, a total of 93 361 people were transported on this route and these numbers continue to grow.
"It clearly demonstrates that our Back to Rail strategy implementation continues to gain momentum and the Kei Rail project continues to prove that provincial government took a right decision by introducing the project. This is one of the shining examples of government's branch line strategy and national government is busy finalising a process of transferring branch lines from the Department of Public Enterprises to the Department of Transport, which would ultimately transfer to provinces," said MEC Barry.
"Our own provincial 10 year rail plan supports this initiative as it intends to ensure that railway lines contribute to the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP)," she added.
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 442 2388
Issued by: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
4 December 2009
