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“We are investing R1.4 billion on rail Transportation” – Minister Of Transport Mbalula Fikile

Posted by Kabza De Small February 13, 2020

South African goverment has promised to invest R1.4 billion in each of rail way lines to provide, a safe, reliSable and affordable service.

The information came hours during SONA2020 on Thursday through the office of Mr president Cyril Ramaphosa.

While speaking through the minister for transport,Mr Mbalula Fikile said that the work is already underway on other lines includes station upgrades, parkway replacements, new signalling systems and overhead electrical traction upgrades,”.

On his speech, Mr Ramaphosa said government would modernise the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA’s) rail network.

The president pointed out that over a million commuters use the country’s rail network daily to travel to and from work, and yet the Central Line in the Western Cape and the Mabopane Line in Pretoria has been closed for essential refurbishment and upgrades for months.

Ramaphosa said: “We are investing R1.4 billion in each of these lines to provide, a safe, reliable and affordable service.”

Last year, Metrorail suspended train services to the most populous areas of the Western Cape “due to the theft of more than 730m of overhead catenary wire in the Bonteheuwel/ Nyanga area”.

The president said work was underway on a number of other lines nationwide, including station upgrades, parkway replacements, new signalling systems and overhead electrical traction upgrades.