10% rise in train crashes sparks pledge on safety
TRANSPORT Minister Fikile Mbalula has revealed that the country’s rail industry has experienced more than 4 000 accidents, which led to some deaths, in the last financial year.
Mbalula made the revelation yesterday during his visit to Transnet’s Bayhead Wagons Maintenance Depot in Durban where he announced that the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) would now get tougher.
He said of the 4 478 incidents, which were reported by the RSR in the 2017/18 financial year, up to 2 369 of them were attributed to Transnet Freight Rail. Mbalula said the incidents represented a 10% increase from the previous financial year.
“Our commitment is to implement measures that will significantly reduce these incidents over time.
“In order for the economy to thrive and our people to be safe, railway safety must become an integral part of our normal operations at all times,” he said.
Mbalula’s spokesperson AyandaAllie Paine said some of the incidents were due to signal problems.
“Some of those collisions were fatal, although I don’t have the exact numbers (of deaths),” said Paine.
Paine pointed out that the RSR would no longer give operating certificates to trains that do not have required safety measures.
Addressing the media and Transnet officials, Mbalula said the RSR inspectorates had the legal authority to enter any operator’s premises and conduct inspections wherever they suspected a compromise of safety.
“This is an important regulatory instrument to ensure that the wheels of the economy keep turning through efficient operations. Safety is a critical cornerstone that enables efficient operations in the railways…” said Mbalula.
He maintained that the launch of the ministerial war room last week was to deal with the safety standard, deficiencies and delays within the passenger rail system.
“The war room will operate within the space of 12 weeks, and as we speak now it is at work unlocking and unblocking all the challenges that we are faced with,” said Mbalula.