Question NW3414 to the Minister of Transport
05 December 2018 - NW3414
Hunsinger, Mr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(a) What (i) maintenance and infrastructure upgrade plans are in place for the rail tracks that run through Pinetown and surroundings areas, (ii) are the timeframes in this regard and (iii) budget has been allocated and (b) what (i) plans are there to implement additional lightening and security, (ii) are the timeframes in this regard and (iii) budget has been allocated for this?
Reply:
a) (i) Specifications for the replacement of corroded rails have been approved and a tender is expected to be issued in January 2019. Appointment of the supplier is planned for the first quarter of the 2019/20 financial year.
As part of the KZN Re-Signalling Project, all stations from Pinetown to Bellair were recently signalled and commissioned.
(ii) Timeframes for replacement of the rails will be seven months from date of delivery of the rails.
(iii) The total amount of is R103 million has been prioritised from the MTEF capital allocation in the region.
b) (i) The Pinetown line has additional lighting and security in the main stations with no permanent security but has high volumes of commuters and high crime hot spot. PRASA did a full renovation of stations including halts on the line, during 2016/17 and repaired them again in the 2017/18 financial year.
(ii) This is a going maintenance activity with no timelines.
(iii) The cost estimated to repair the vandalized electrical work amounts to R280,000 for Seaview Station and R650,000 for Sarnia Station. The budget for security on this line is R136,000 per month.