PRASA Reports Continued Progress

In a virtual meeting on 28 February 2024, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) briefed the Select Committee on its 2022/23 Annual Report. This session marked the Committee’s final engagement with PRASA during the tenure of the 6th Parliament.

Despite challenging operating conditions throughout the 2022/23 reporting period, PRASA demonstrated significant progress in achieving its performance objectives, improving from 19% (2021/22) to 59% in 2022/23. The agency upgraded its audit opinion from disclaimed to qualified and reopened 26 out of 40 train corridors with its new “blue” trains. Additionally, PRASA successfully reopened parts of the Central Line in Cape Town and is currently engaged in the second phase of the recovery process for the line.

Capital expenditure reached R13 billion, exceeding its budget allocation. Passenger trips grew substantially, although not meeting targets, from 480,000 in July 2022 to 2.81 million in March 2023. It was also noted that incidents related to theft and vandalism showed a significant reduction as a result of the implementation of the ongoing integrated security plan.

During the meeting, PRASA Group CEO, Mr. Hishaam Emeran, highlighted the achievements and challenges of the 2022/23 financial year. PRASA met 10 out of 17 predetermined performance objectives and received 147 new trains.

Key milestones missed during the period include:

• The re-signalling on the Central Line was affected by delays in relocating informal settlements. However, progress is currently being made towards the full recovery of this line.
• The verification of local content for new trains being manufactured in South Africa (Gibela), which was to be undertaken by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), faced contractual challenges, impacting the confirmation of localisation targets set at 67%. It is hoped that this year the independent verification will take place.
• Operations on the Mabopane Line, a presidential initiative, saw improvements, but targets for station numbers and service frequencies are still being addressed.
• The depot modernisation programme has fallen behind schedule; however, interim measures have been implemented to maintain the new trains deployed across various corridors.

It was highlighted that PRASA does not control all 40 national rail corridors; some are managed by Transnet, requiring PRASA to await their restoration. Specifically mentioned were the East London-Berlin and Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage lines, where PRASA deploys diesel locomotives. Challenges arise in the Eastern Cape, where the new fleet of electric trains faces compatibility issues due to the region’s 25kV electrical network, unlike the 3kV system prevalent across the rest of the country.

Additionally, this area has experienced significant vandalism of its electrical infrastructure. In response, technicians are investigating innovative solutions to safeguard the network against vandalism and potentially expand its reach into rural locations.

However, the good news is that PRASA is currently seeing good recovery in passenger numbers and recently received the 200th train from Gibela. The KZN re-signalling project has been awarded and progress is being made.

Watch the recorded meeting: https://www.youtube.com/live/BTqVMeL3KgM?si=afG3p8swxmvDxRGF

You can also find the minutes and relevant meeting documents here: https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/38454/