The uMlazi train station, south of Durban, is up and running after having been vandalised and looted, along with many other stations, during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The refurbishment of uMlazi train station started on March 20, this year and was completed by September 22.
On Monday the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) spokesperson, Zama Nomnganga said Prasa had suffered millions of rand in damages as a result of vandalism during the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Criminals had taken advantage of the lockdown,” he said. “Cables were stolen, they have vandalised substations, even in latrines – the basins and taps have been removed.”
Mr Nomnganga said work at the station included the upgrading of all platforms – station concourse and approaches; replacing lighting with more advanced lights and damaged signage and repainting faded surface marking; fitted seats for commuters on waiting platforms; upgrading ticket sales offices, staff offices, change rooms, mess rooms and all ablutions as well as re-fencing of the station.
“Among the many improvements made during the refurbishment, the standby generator for emergencies was also reinstalled,” said Mr Nomnganga. “This is part of the ongoing infrastructure rehabilitation and station rebuilding programmes across the regions.”
In September Prasa got the approval to run a commercial service with the new Electric Motor Units (EMU) on the KwaMashu to Durban corridor. On September 12, the Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga officially launched the KwaMashu to Durban passenger train service. The launch was part of the government’s Passenger Rail Recovery Programme following the destruction of rail infrastructure during the floods and under Covid-19 lockdown.
The modern trains, popularly known as Isitimela Sabantu (meaning people’s train), formed part of the 18 corridors recovered by Prasa. The trains are already running on the Southern Corridor between Durban and Umbogintwini and Durban to Cato Ridge lines. The phased rollout of the EMU on the recovered corridors is part of Prasa’s wider strategy to modernise and improve passenger rail services across South Africa. Prasa said they also want to make rail a safe, reliable, and an affordable mode of transport.
A single trip from KwaMashu to Durban costs commuters under R10 as it is being subsidised by the government. The reopening of the corridor amounted to R94 million, and about R230 million has been spent so far on fixing infrastructure damage to about eight rail lines in KwaZulu-Natal, Prasa said.
