Vandalisation of Commuter Rail Assets Cost SARCC R12 Million in One Month

The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) which is responsible for managing commuter rail assets and ensuring the provision of services is concerned about the extent of vandalism of its trains, rail tracks, stations and signalling systems and the effect that this has on the CAPEX (capital expenditure) budget as well as the service provided by Metrorail.

Ben van der Ross, Acting Managing Director of SARCC said today that a series of vandalism incidents which happened in December 2000 during the security guards strike particularly in the East Rand, Gauteng and in Phillipi, Cape Town will cost the SARCC about R12 million.

On the 21st December 2000, three plain trailers and two motor coaches were burnt in Phillipi and will cost at least R5 million to repair and/or replace.

In the same month, in the East Rand, a rail line (Katlehong to Kwesini) and twenty-five stations were vandalised. Three of them namely Katlehong, Pilot and Kwesini were severely damaged. Telecommunication, access control equipment and signalling cables were also stripped out and stolen.

Sadly this happened after the SARCC had commissioned a new system on this line at the end of November 2000. New signalling enabled Metrorail to operate two lines and to use an automated system after the 7 November 2000 accident. As a result of the vandalism, Metrorail is compelled to revert to operating one line and using a manual system as before the accident. Train services (frequency and number of trains run) on the Katlehong- Kwesini line have been severely reduced and busses have been arranged between Katlehong and Elsburg for affected commuters. SARCC and Metrorail are working on restoring the line. It is estimated that it will take at least six months to reinstate at a cost of over R7 million.