Transport Minister Dipuo Peters called for an overhaul of South Africa’s commuter rail system.
|||Pretoria - Transport Minister Dipuo Peters on Monday called for an overhaul of South Africa’s commuter rail system after an independent inquiry found that a lack of maintenance, human factors and ineffective communication caused the April 2015 passenger trains rear-end collision in which 240 people were injured.
“The findings of the investigation are systematic and include the following; lack of maintenance, ineffective communication, human factors and ineffective allocation of capital funding,” Peters told reporters in Pretoria.
Peters said the driver of the Business Express train 1602 was seriously injured and is recuperating from her injuries.
A Metrorail security guard in the other train, MetroPlus Express Train 0600 sustained fatal injuries.
Both trains had left the Pretoria station at 6am and 6.15am respectively heading to Park Station in Johannesburg.
“At approximately 7.06 am, MetroPlus Express Train 0600 came to a standstill in front of signal number DN11 at the Denver Station. The driver confirmed that he stopped at signal DN11 as a result of his inability to clearly see the aspect of the signal DN11,” said Peters.
She said at the time of the accident, the MetroPlus Express train 0600 was protected by a signal displaying a red/danger sign.
“Whilst in the process of contacting the George Goch Centralised Traffic Office, Business Express Train 1602, which was proceeding in the same direction as MetroPlus Express Train 0600, passed a signal displaying a danger aspect and collided with the rear-end of MetroPlus Express Train 0600,” said Peters.
She said the rail commuter service in South Africa needs “a complete overhaul” to ensure a safe and efficient passenger experience.
“Prasa has initiated on a programme to transform and modernise passenger railways in South Africa. In this instance, Prasa will be investing approximately R172 billion over 10 years which have already commenced in the 2013/14 financial year,” she said.
The modernisation programme includes capital investments and the acquisition of 3600 new coaches.
African News Agency