May, 2001
R400m Investment for Commuter Rail Signalling Infrastructure
The Minister of Transport, Dr Dullah Omar, announced today that the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) will spend over R400 million in upgrading commuter rail signalling and rail-bound telecommunications in the next five years.
"Some projects, such as the new signalling systems for Germiston, Midway, Lenz, Lawley, Grasmere and Johannesburg and the re-signalling of Bellville and Kuilsrivier in the Western Cape have already started," said the Minister.
Ben van der Ross, the acting CEO of SARCC, said that the SARCC has conducted an infrastructure condition assessment, which indicated that there is a backlog regarding the replacement of the signalling systems. To address the situation, the Corporation has embarked on a national infrastructure rehabilitation programme.
The focus of the programme is on modernising the signalling systems by replacing the old with the latest technology. The new systems will enhance the necessary line capacity to operate the intensive schedule of train services.
"Although the current systems are safe and reliable, they are aging and the cost of repairs and maintenance is escalating. The new systems will ensure that the safety of commuters is not compromised in the future," said Van der Ross.
The new infrastructure will include relay interlocking systems, cables, signals, point machines, track circuits, Centralised Train Control centres (CTC's) and upgrading of rail-bound telecommunication facilities.
SARCC has a plan to merge all small CTC's into one single CTC for Southern Gauteng and house them in one building. This move will ensure a single point where all train operations are co-ordinated by one CTC for the entire system in Southern Gauteng, thus ensuring smooth operation of services.
Van der Ross said that to discourage cable theft and vandalism of commuter rail assets, SARCC has embarked on a programme to bury all surface cables at various stations in the Southern Gauteng region.
"The safety of commuters remains a priority, and in ensuring the provision of commuter rail services, SARCC will, among others, continue to address issues that concern the safety of commuters", concluded Van der Ross.
SARCC is the agency of the Department of Transport responsible for commuter rail in South Africa. It owns all commuter rail assets including property in and around stations. Its property portfolio is managed by Intersite Property Management Services, its a wholly owned subsidiary. SARCC has contracted Metrorail, a division of Transnet, to operate services on its behalf in six regions namely, Witwatersrand, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.
