Question NW1399 to the Minister of Transport
31 May 2018 - NW1399
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What is the (a) total number of railway crossings in the country, (b) where is each railway crossing located and (c) does each specified railway crossing have a functioning boom; (2) whether each railway crossing has a functioning warning system; if so, what are the details of each railway crossing’s warning system?
Reply:
1. (a) According to the records received by the RSR from Operators, there is a total of 10,435 level crossings in South Africa, of which 2,937 are public level crossings, 6,528 are private level crossings and 970 are departmental level crossings. Of these level crossings, 10,304 are active, 105 are inactive and 26 are on lines that are dormant.
(b) These level crossings are distributed throughout the country. For ease of reference, they have been summarized and categorized into Provinces as per the table below:
Status |
Ownership (Public / Private) |
||||||
Province |
Number of Level Crossings |
Active |
Dormant |
Inactive |
Departmental |
Private |
Public |
Gauteng |
2,199 |
2,150 |
4 |
45 |
164 |
1,412 |
623 |
Western Cape |
1,830 |
1,819 |
10 |
1 |
292 |
1,212 |
326 |
Free State |
1,824 |
1,821 |
1 |
2 |
109 |
1,196 |
519 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
1,469 |
1,411 |
7 |
51 |
119 |
900 |
450 |
Eastern Cape |
1,305 |
1,303 |
0 |
2 |
102 |
736 |
467 |
Northern Cape |
690 |
686 |
2 |
2 |
123 |
424 |
143 |
Limpopo |
538 |
538 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
295 |
210 |
Mpumalanga |
486 |
483 |
2 |
1 |
18 |
319 |
149 |
North West |
94 |
93 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
34 |
50 |
Grand Total |
10,435 |
10,304 |
26 |
105 |
970 |
6,528 |
2,937 |
c) Not all level crossings do have functional booms. Only 232 level crossings are equipped with Flashing Red Discs and Booms or only with Flashing Red Discs. The level of protection at level crossings are determined by the level of prevailing risk at the level crossing and may vary from a class 1 level of protections to a class 6B level of protection. This assessment is conducted by the Railway Operator in conjunction with the Road Authority (or Private Road Owner) in accordance with the South African Road Traffic Manual Chapter 2 Volume 7 and the standard of level crossings SANS 3000-2-2-1 Requirements for systemic engineering and operational safety standards – Track and associated civil infrastructure and installations – Level crossings. This standard was adopted by the National Minister of Transport as a Regulation under the National Road Traffic Act as Regulation 312A.
(2) All level crossings are equipped with signage that is in accordance with the prevailing risk at the level crossing to mitigate the risk to acceptable levels and is in accordance with the South African Road Traffic Manual Chapter 2 Volume 7 and the standard of level crossings SANS 3000-2-2-1 Requirements for systemic engineering and operational safety standards – Track and associated civil infrastructure and installations – Level crossings.