PRASA - the dreams and the backlog

[John Ashworth]

PRASA: THE DREAMS

Posted on 16 April 2009 by Station Master

“A portfolio of new projects is being considered,” Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) CEO Montana told Engineering News, “including the R8.6 billion Moloto corridor rail system between Tshwane and Mpumalanga, which has already been endorsed by Cabinet and a high-speed, standard-gauge train between Johannesburg and Durban.

“Prasa is also assessing two serious bids to build a new link between Cape Town and the city’s international airport, and a number of light-rail projects are also being canvassed. A significant amount of money will also be needed to upgrade and modernise signalling as well as for new systems to improve train deployment and monitoring.

“The most suitable funding and operational model for the various initiatives is also the subject of debate. Options range from public-private partnerships, through to pure state finance, or for Prasa to raise the money from the local and international capital markets off its own balance sheet, but with the help of a government guarantee.

PRASA: THE BACKLOG

Posted on 17 April 2009 by Station Master

businessxpress_img_7241_20080613The newly formed Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) will need to introduce some 560 new coaches yearly for the next 10 to 12 years if it is to effectively match capacity to anticipated demand growth and reposition commuter rail at the heart of the country’s public transport system, CEO Lucky Montana is reported saying in an interview with Engineering News. “Such an aspiration would require an investment far beyond the R25 billion already allocated by national government for the next three years.”

The report continues: :”Further, such a material scale-up, which could also include the creation of new rail corridors and the deployment of light-rail and high-speed trains, would probably only be possible in partnership with private sector investors and financiers.

“Prasa is the product of the still unfolding merger between the South African Rail Commuter Corporation’s Metrorail and the passenger transport businesses that have hitherto been housed within Transnet - Shosoloza Meyl and the Translux and City-to-City brands that fall under Autopax. It also embraces the Intersite property business that operates and maintains a significant property portfolio, including hundreds of stations.

“With the addition of the intercity bus business, Prasa will also assess inter-modal transport options, particularly for those commuters seeking a reliable urban-rural transport alternative.”

Montana was quoted saying: “We believe the integration of the bus services will complement the rail service. It gives us the option to transport people across modes, using rail say from Johannesburg to Umtata and then a bus to rural Transkei.”

“In the meantime, however, the focus is on a significant catch-up investment programme, designed to incrementally improve the existing service, which is currently able to sustain about 650 million passenger journeys yearly. Some R4 billion has already been spent on upgrading rolling stock, and there is a programme to upgrade 2,000 coaches by the end of 2010. Montana anticipates that about R5 billion would be spent in the next financial year.”

“We have done 1,400 already, and 700 more of these will be done in the new financial year,” Montana said, adding that there was also a significant drive to improve infrastructure, particularly those stations that would be used during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“Some R300 million has been set aside for small incremental improvements to the station sites, from the revamping and opening of toilets, through to new fencing and painting programmes.

“We have the upgrades, but we are now reaching a point where we need to begin adjusting from upgrades to building new capacity. And we know that this company, at this point in time, does not have all the financial resources and that we will have to get support from the private sector,” Montana concluded.

Both from Railways Africa, here and here respectively.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

I have always believed that a strong economy is backed by a strong Railway system.Our railways has slipped backwards badly allowing the trucking industry with their overloaded trucks to damage our roads and cause danger. We should be able to accommodate far more passengers. Our death toll on the roads per year is ludicrous whereas rail travel is still by far the safest and the cheapest way to travel, not only in South Africa but worldwide. We also need a high speed route from Gauteng to Cape Town where freight and passengers can reach their destination far quicker and safer. Not everyone can fly. Our airports are becoming congested just like the overseas airports. This would take millions of tons of freight off the road, creating a massive saving on road maintenance and upgrade. This money could be spent on continual upgrade on Rail Loco's , Coaches (freight and passenger) and infrastructure creating much employment.

[Derek Walker]

Whether all these grandiose schemes ever reach fruition will remain to be seen, If the infrastructure had never been allowed to deteriorate in the first place they would not have had to find so much money to try catch up. Methinks that Thursday will really be the deciding factor as to what happens or does not happen.