Question No 465
Mr M S F de Freitas (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) Whether any measures are in place to ensure that the rail plan is customer focused; if not, why not; if so, what measures;
(2) (a) What progress has been made by his department with regard to the establishment of the fraud hotline, (b) at what stage is this hotline currently and (c) What are the costs involved in establishing this hotline;
(3) Whether any mechanisms are in place to ensure that whistleblowers remain anonymous; if not, why not; if so, what mechanisms?
Reply:
The Minister of Transport:
(1) The rail plan is demand driven and derives its conclusions from detailed demand analysis reflecting the current and future travel patterns of commuters. The rail network and services have been overlaid onto the demand profiles to identify the priority rail corridors.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) market research and the Department of Transport’s (DoT) national household travel survey have directed the strategies of the rail plan and its implementation.
Service charters that are being developed in conjunction with the respective planning authorities determine the required service levels for implementing the rail plan through turn-around of the priority corridors. These include train frequencies, comfort loading levels and service quality attributes, such as safety, cleanliness, heating and station facilities. Ongoing market research on corridors and stations informs further service improvements on a regular basis.
(2) (a) The establishment of the fraud hotline is not related to the rail plan.
(b) and (c) Fall away.
(3) Falls away.
Issued by: Department of Transport
10 September 2009
