Usd 1 Billion For Signalling Upgrade In South Africa

The Government of South Africa is committed to invest additional R19.2 billion (USD 1 billion) for the improvement of signalling equipment “that will enable passenger train services to operate efficiently after a long period of dis-functionality.”

This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, during his budget speech in the Parliament. This follows many appeals and interventions by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).

SCOPA undertook an oversight visit to the Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) in Johannesburg in October last year. During this visit, the authorities made an 80-minute train journey from Naledi station in Soweto to Park station which highlighted that due to faulty of the signalling equipment, train schedules are heavily affected.

In his budget speech, the Minister of Finance said Prasa was allocated R19.2 billion to improve automated signalling equipment, and Prasa is making steady progress to rebuild infrastructure to provide affordable commuter rail services. To sustain this progress, we have provisionally allocated an additional R19.2 billion over the medium term for critical signalling upgrades,” the minister said.

The budget allocation will also allow Prasa to maximise the potential of the 241 new trains delivered through the rolling stock renewal programme.

The signalling equipment upgrades will enable commuters from areas like Mamelodi, Kwa-Mashu, Motherwell and Khayelitsha to take a train every 10 minutes to get to and from work and significantly reduce the money that low-income households spend on transport.

The signalling programme Prasa is implementing covers the replacement of all the existing signalling interlocking, which consists mainly of obsolete mechanical and electro-mechanical systems, with electronic interlocking, which will enhance safety and punctuality and will provide passengers better services. In 2023, the replacement was completed in Gauteng and Western Provinces.  Prasa started the re-signalling work the central line from Langa to Nyanga and Sarepta, Kapteinsklip and Chris Hani.