Question No 621
Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
Whether the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) intends building a railway line from Motherwell to the Coega Industrial Development Zone; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Transport:
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) intends building a railway line from Motherwell to the Coega Industrial Development Zone (CIDZ) in the future. To this end, PRASA has engaged with the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM) on the Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and Motherwell Township developments, respectively, from the early stages of these developments.
PRASA, CDC and NMBM have already developed plans for commuter rail linkages to the Coega IDZ via the existing Transnet Freight Rail Corridor and the future Motherwell Rail Corridor. Once successfully implemented this rail network would enable comprehensive servicing of the initial and future phases of the Coega IDZ.
The rail intervention for Coega, Motherwell and environs is planned in three phases of priority for implementation:
* Phase one: 7,5km extension into Motherwell with planning completed. Detail design to commence on obtaining funding for the project.
* Phase two: Additional 10 km extension, completing a full loop through Motherwell, consisting of a total of 17,5km over the medium term.
* Phase three: Spur-Link from Motherwell into Coega for the medium to long term. The Coega spur is dependent on completion of the full Motherwell loop, phases one and two.
The 2006 Regional Rail Plan and the 2008/09 comprehensive integrated transport plan confirmed the future Motherwell and Coega rail connections as necessary transport interventions in the future. The Motherwell Rail Corridor (phase one) is considered a priority future rail corridor and the Coega linkages as a medium to long term requirement once the Coega IDZ has experienced greater development.
Issued by: Department of Transport
10 September 2009
