Express train still experiencing delays
ALTHOUGH a 12-coach business express train planned to run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban has been completed, Transnet has yet to complete renovations at Pietermaritzburg Station.
The provincial legislature yesterday called for work to be accelerated as the project had now been stalled for more than two years because of logistical problems.
The latest time frame is that the express train service will be ready for operation early next year.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), a division of Transnet, said the project would mostly accommodate government officials and business people working in Pietermaritzburg, but living in Durban, and was also intended to ease congestion on the N3 during peak hours.
Transport portfolio committee chairman Mxolisi Kaunda said Prasa would now adhere to its new time frame.
“We are looking at persuading Prasa to speed up the process. We are more than interested to know when it will start,” he said.
Kaunda was speaking to the media soon after Prasa officials had taken committee members and the media on the luxury train from Durban Station to Umlazi’s Mnyandu Station.
During the journey, the passengers praised the comfort of the train, which is divided into executive and business sections.
Each coach has catering facilities and 10 television sets. However, Kaunda complained about the absence of air conditioners.
The train will take about an hour and 40 minutes to complete the journey.
At Durban Station, committee members saw an upgraded waiting area meant for business express passengers. This section has computers for passengers to use while waiting to start the journey.
Prasa regional manager Dumi Dube said the train would start its daily trip to Pietermaritzburg Station early next year, as the station was still under refurbishment.
“We discovered that the platform in Pietermaritzburg was too low, and therefore difficult for passengers to embark and disembark from the train. That took time because we had to go through normal procurement processes to find contractors to rectify that,” he said.
A Prasa official told The Mercury that there was a second train, which was more luxurious, with conference centres, entertainment and bars. This was not an express train.
“This one will generate income for us through hosting events for companies. But if there is more demand for people to travel between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, that train will be made available,” he said.
Prasa spokesman Zama Nomnganga said the company was still investigating the possibility of building a railway line for a passenger train between King Shaka Airport and Durban’s city centre.