Nzimande appeals for rail solution

The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) indicated yesterday it remained “resolute” about its actions over withdrawing the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa) safety permit ahead of an expected meeting between the chairpersons of the organisations in Cape Town later today.

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday appealed to both RSR and Prasa to find an out of court settlement in the interests of millions of commuters who daily use Metrorail.

Their standoff over safety could have devastating consequences for commuters who rely on trains to get to work and will be stranded without the service.

The regulator issued Prasa with a notice of intention to suspend its safety permit after two Metrorail trains collided in Kempton Park last week, injuring at least 320 people.

Prasa has since asked the High Court in Pretoria to invalidate the intended suspension of its operating permit.

In a statement, Nzimande said he had not yet received a report from the RSR on the Prasa railway asset condition assessment and the condition of its rail network.

“I believe that both the boards of the RSR and Prasa are capable of resolving their impasse cordially in the best interest of all commuters.

“Such a decision must not negatively impact on the provision of safe and secure Metrorail operations,” Nzimande said.

The acting director-general of the department of transport was expected to convene an urgent meeting between the chairpersons of Prasa and the RSR to try and find a resolution.

Nziande said he remained committed to the provision of a reliable, safe, effective, efficient and cost effective public transport system.

A question about if the RSR mandate was safety, and Prasa simply wasn’t complying, went unanswered by the department of transport. –