The Portfolio Committee on Transport has sent heartfelt condolences to the family of a man killed when two trains crashed in Denver, Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, said the Committee also wished speedy recovery to those injured.
“The preliminary investigations points to recklessness on the part of the driver, and that necessitates continuous testing for train drivers and that they need to be made aware of the responsibility they carry on their shoulders when they transport people,” Ms Magadzi said.
“Trains remain the most affordable form of transport to many and that necessitates that infrastructure be revamped and that adequate maintenance be regularly carried out on passanger trains. Signalling equipment and the actual rail tracks should at all times be compliant with international minimum standards,” she said.
The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) is in a drive to overhaul South Africa’s rail transport and has invested well over a billion rands on modern carriages and upgrading its equipment over the next 10 years.
“New carriages are but one component of an improved rail system. A revamp of the rail transportation will not only ensure reliability but also will ease the pressure on our roads,” Ms Magadzi said.
Enquiries:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
