Trains back on track
TRAIN operations on the north coast corridor are set to resume on Monday after they were suspended last month.
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Transnet confirmed last week that the repairs on the line which resulted in the suspensions of the trains, have been completed.
KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda commended the parastatals for speeding up repairs.
He lauded PRASA and Transnet for working round the clock to ensure that the lines are fixed as a matter of urgency. ‘This paves the way for the reinstatement of train operations on the corridor which includes areas such as Phoenix, Verulam, Tongaat and Stanger. ‘PRASA had decided to suspend trains on the line because it was not safe for commuters and employees owing to cable theft and aging infrastructure which affected time travelled by commuters.
‘This threatened the lives of train drivers as trains were not arriving on time and causing commuters to be agitated,’ said Kaunda.
The MEC has urged communities to assist the police to ensure that those who continuously vandalise the infrastructure are apprehended.
He also thanked them for their patience while the repairs were being undertaken.
‘PRASA took this drastic step to suspend trains because we wanted to ensure that commuters are safe and to improve travel times,’ Kaunda said.