PRASA Modernization Programme

PRASA Modernization Programme

“South Africa’s passenger rail service carries‑over 2.6 million commuters daily. This is achieved under grave challenges of old technology and unreliable rolling stock. In 2011 the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) announced its acquisition of a new Rolling Stock Program. PRASA has also initiated a 20-year Modernization Program which will update signaling, permanent way and old technology to reverse the historic under-investment in passenger rail” (KPNG).

A new contract was signed in October 2013 to build 7224 new vehicles over 20 years, with the first 6000 to be ready within the first decade. The manufacturing company would also provide technical support for the project. Each train would have six cars and can carry more than 1300 passengers. The trains would be able to travel on an average speed of 120 km/h and when upgraded can travel at 160 km/h. This would create more than 65000 jobs in the South African economy.

But work has been slow. In fact, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) called on PRASA to accelerate its modernisation programme after commuters went on a rampage in Johannesburg last August. There have been many allegation of corruption and with the political turmoil, it is unsure whether the project would be completed in time.

PRASA logo (Image Credits: Infrastructurene.ws)