By Phenyo Selinda
Sandton – The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is making commendable strides in rehabilitating the nation’s passenger train services. Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Hishaam Emeran announced today at the Africa Rail 2024 Conference, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, that 31 out of 40 rail corridors have been successfully reopened.
Reviving a Critical Artery Amidst Challenges
Emeran revealed that PRASA has managed to restore nearly 80% of the network, overcoming the challenges posed by extensive theft and vandalism during the COVID-19 lockdown. This resurgence marks a significant milestone in reviving South Africa’s passenger rail system.
“The resuscitation of the 31 corridors translates into the steady return of rail passengers. We are not where we need to be yet, but we are seeing significant progress. A year back, we had 15 million passengers and by the end of March this year, we reached 40 million passengers. That’s nearly a 200% increase,” Emeran noted.
Massive Investment and Job Creation
To drive this recovery, PRASA has poured over R12 billion into capital projects, resulting in the creation of approximately 4,500 jobs. These investments have been fundamental in revitalising the rail system, stirring economic growth and providing much-needed employment.
“Over the past 24 months, PRASA has achieved major milestones, and we can see a significant improvement; you can see a turnaround within the rail space in South Africa. That has been possible, in large part, to PRASA’s ability to execute on our capital programme,” said Emeran.
Economic Impacts and Strategic Focus
Emeran outlined how PRASA has injected over R30 billion into the economy over the last two years, which includes expenditure on projects, rolling stock manufacturing, and other organisational improvements within the rail sector. This substantial investment is driving economic recovery and societal benefits across the board.
PRASA’s turnaround strategy emphasises corridor rebuilding, modernisation, and safety measures, yielding positive outcomes for both passengers and the economy. “The modernisation of the rail system is reaping rewards. It is creating jobs and revitalising an essential commuter artery. It is also boosting the manufacturing sector with the building of the new ‘people’s train’ taking place in Gauteng’s East Rand,” Emeran said.
Local Manufacturing and Continental Ambitions
A critical component of this strategy is the production of 600 trains at the Gibela factory. These trains are locally manufactured, with about 65% of the components sourced from within South Africa. This initiative supports the African Union’s vision of establishing South Africa as the leading train manufacturing hub on the continent.
“Those trains are manufactured by Gibela and built here in South Africa by young men and women who are engineers, technicians, welders and so on. We have ensured that about 65% of the parts that go into that train are local content,” Emeran stated.
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