Government plans new R9.3bn rail line
July 6, 2009
By Justin Brown
A multibillion-rand commuter rail line between Pretoria and Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga was being planned by the Department of Transport, spokesman Sam Monareng said on Friday.
He said the department intended to spend more than R9.3 billion to provide a faster, safer, cheaper service with bigger capacity for commuters to enhance the corridor's economic development.
The 140km-long rail line is intended to ease bottlenecks for workers in the Tshwane metropolitan areas who travel by bus and taxi on the Moloto route. The route connects rural communities in the western regions of Mpumalanga and the Nkangala and Sekhukhune districts of Limpopo.
The project won cabinet approval in March last year, after a feasibility study and endorsement by the Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provincial governments
"The bus system appears to have reached its capacity and is no longer cost effective," Monareng said. "The rail mode, combined with road feeder services, has the potential of being more cost effective and accommodating future passenger volume increases suitably."
More than 800 jobs would be created during construction of the rail link. It would generate 600 permanent jobs and about 8 200 indirect jobs would be created at the development nodes along the corridor.
The development of an integrated, multi-modal transport system would serve as a transport spine and catalyst for economic development.
The rail line will be the first phase of the Moloto corridor. A second phase will link Siyabuswa to Sekhukhune in Limpopo and Burgersfort in Mpumalanga.
"The second phase is not under consideration at the moment," Monareng said.
A project office would be created to manage design and construction and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), formerly the SA Rail Commuter Corporation, would take a lead role in this office.
|
|
