Question NW1399 to the Minister of Transport

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.