launch the Kei Rail Safety Awareness Programme
9 May 2007
Eastern Cape MEC for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Mr Thobile
Mhlahlo, will receive three transport experts from Germany at the Department of
Roads and Transport large conference room in King Williams Town on Monday, 14
May 2007 at 10h00, followed by a media briefing at 11h00.
These experts were involved in the development of transport systems in
Germany while preparing for the 2006 Soccer World Cup held in that country.
Part of their assignment during the one-week stay with us will be for them to
share ideas and possible scenarios towards co-ordinated planning of a proposed
Provincial Transport Demand Management Plan for 2010.
They will also share their experiences with the Provincial Transport Working
Group which include representatives from different authorities, including the
host city (Nelson Mandela Bay) as well as Buffalo City and King Sabata
Dalindyebo Municipalities.
Furthermore, MEC Mhlahlo is expected to launch the Kei Rail Safety Awareness
Campaign, which forms part of the Department of Roads and Transport's
preparations for the launch of Kei Rail Passenger Service. During this
preparation process test trains will be running on the line between Mthatha and
East London for the purposes of safety testing and driver training from Monday,
21 May 2007.
Services on this line have not been active for many years and it is
therefore imperative that a safety awareness campaign is implemented to ensure
the safety of communities and property along the line.
The objectives of the safety awareness campaign are:
* to raise awareness that there will be trains running on the line before the
service begins
* to inform communities along the line of the dangers associated with an
operational railway line, particularly children
* to create awareness of safe rail behaviour in the communities along the
line
* to raise awareness of the role of flagmen at level crossings
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 44 22 388 or 073 2066 569
Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
9 May 2007