PRASA: Ensuring Rail Remains a Backbone of Public Transport

At the core of an awe-inspiringly broad scope, PRASA sets out to provide safe, predictable, consistent, affordable and quality commuter rail, long-haul passenger rail and long-haul intercity bus services. “Our vision is to be a recognised provider and manufacturer of safe and reliable public passenger services and products,” the company clarifies.

“A leader in public transport solutions, PRASA is leading Government efforts to transform public transport in South Africa, providing better mobility and accessibility in pursuit of a better life for all.”

NATIONAL POLICY

Set out in the National Rail Policy White Paper 2022 is the clear vision to position rail as, “an affordable, competitive, effective, integrated, reliable, safe, sustainable and valued transport mode that provides the backbone of South Africa’s freight logistics and passenger mobility systems and strengthens its economic growth and social development by 2050.”

The twofold thrust of this policy focuses primarily on the revitalisation of the rail sector, through substantial investment that will result in a high-performance rail sector and recapture the full extent of its potential contribution to the national transport task. “In doing so, the overall transport sector’s harmful emissions will be reduced,” PRASA stresses.

Additionally, PRASA outlines, the secondary aim of the policy relates to institutional repositioning, and in particular the introduction of competition, especially to concessioning commuter/passenger lines where PRASA cannot offer services, with favourable terms for the private sector to recoup investment over a long time.

“For PRASA, the intervention seeks to initiate a railway renaissance by deploying high-speed, contemporary, urban and regional rapid transit, where rail offers the most economically, environmentally, financially and socially viable logistics and/or mobility solution,” the company condenses.

“The rail policy provides a significant opportunity to build and strengthen local manufacturing capacity in South Africa,” PRASA intuits, “through industrialisation and the local production of steel and other inputs, rail lines and supplies and rolling stock. This is promoted through policies that will require the state and private operators to procure all supplies from South African-based manufacturers.

“PRASA views the National Rail Policy as a facilitator of progressive strategic thinking in as far as the future of rail in South Africa is concerned. The policy statement around rolling stock to build and strengthen local manufacturing capacity in South Africa fits with PRASA’s current Rolling Stock Renewal Programme.”

ROLLING-STOCK REVITALISATION

PRASA announced last year the award of a five-year general-overhaul contract to afford the heavy maintenance and repairs of its train-sets and clear the existing backlog, with five contractors nationally set to benefit. “Many of our train sets are out of commission due to the lifespan of our coaches and the vandalism of our coaches, making our trains hazardous and unsafe for our commuters,” PRASA explained.

“Therefore, this is a positive development for PRASA and commuters because we can now start maintenance and refurbishment work and increase the availability of trains as we recover our lines.” The lifespan of a coach is, in general, around 40 years, and the majority of PRASA’s fleet is now more than 50 years old. In the asset lifecycle of trains, individual coaches need to undergo general maintenance every nine to 10 years; under this programme some 380-400 coaches will undergo heavy maintenance and rehabilitation work every year for the next five years.

“This programme not only supports the corporate strategy to provide a safe, reliable, and comfortable service to commuters, but also supports PRASA’S modernisation programme,” added the company. “As we transition to the new electrical trains manufactured at the Gibela manufacturing plant, the current fleet needs to be maintained until new electrical motor units are finally acquired and fully incorporated into service by estimated 2033.

“The current fleet is expected to still be operational and systematically phased out by then.”

There is also an unignorable economic benefit to this R7.5 billion contract, PRASA underlined, serving to breathe new life into an industry that was almost left decimated. “This contract has the potential to revive and ignite our economy as over 2000 direct jobs are expected to be created,” PRASA furthered. “This is a true testament that we at PRASA, move beyond our primary mandate of transportation. This milestone has given our ageing fleet a new lease of life and set to increase productivity, boost confidence and staff morale within our organisation.

“This also gives PRASA an opportunity to innovate as we expedite the deployment of the new electrical trains.”

This year, Siemens Mobility completed a re-signalling project in Gauteng to help improve the reliability and safety of services run by PRASA, the largest signalling project to have been completed on South Africa’s railways to date to provide PRASA with a fully bi-directional system designed for 2.5 minute headways. Consequently, the company will now be able to optimise timetable planning, remote monitoring and fault-finding solutions.

“We take immense pride in the exceptional teamwork demonstrated by both PRASA and Siemens in completing this complex project,” said Kevin Pillay, CEO, Siemens Mobility, South Africa. “This shows we have the local skills and resources to deliver advanced signalling systems for South Africa. We’re proud to be PRASA’s technology partner and take great satisfaction in transforming rail travel for people in Gauteng, building South Africa‘s rail sector and contributing positively to communities in Gauteng and the wider economy.”