President Cyril Ramaphosa visits PRASA Modernisation Programme, 9 Apr

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 9 April 2019, undertake a visit to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) in Cape Town where the President will be briefed on PRASA’s efforts to improve commuter services and to stimulate economic activity and industrialisation through its modernisation programme. The President will also observe the testing of new train sets.
 
The President’s visit follows his recent personal experience of commuter frustration and technical problems with rolling stock between Mabopane and Bosman stations in Pretoria. During an engagement with commuters, the train on which the President was travelling broke down, turning a 45-minute journey into a three-hour delay
 
In Cape Town PRASA will take the President through elements of the passenger rail sector’s 20-year modernisation programme.
 
This programme aims to revitalise the rail industry through local manufacturing of parts, maintenance, the establishment of training facilities, the achievement of 65 percent local content, and training and skills development for PRASA employees and young people interested in the rail industry.
 
Government’s commitment to providing safe and sufficient passenger rail services that will benefit commuters and the economy is reflected in its investment of more than R170 billion to ensure that passenger rail services offer:

  • Modern, safe and reliable trains for commuters
  • Faster trains which will increase capacity of the network
  • Improved overall safety of trains and reduced energy costs and
  • Improved, predictable and reliable services to passengers.

During his visit to Cape Town’s central railway station, President Ramaphosa will view two new trains that were manufactured locally and which will be deployed on upgraded infrastructure, as part of PRASA’s Rolling Stock Fleet Renewal Programme that will see the manufacturing of more than 7 000 new trains over a period of 20 years - or close to 30 per month.
 
Members of the media are invited as follows:
 
Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2019
Time: 11h00 (members of the media are requested to arrive at 10h00)
Venue: Cape Town Station, Western Cape Province
 
Media RSVP: 
Terrence Manase
Cell: 082 338 6707
E-mail: terrence@presidency.gov.za

Media enquiries: 
Khusela Diko
Cell: 072 854 5707

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