Prasa launches vigorous safety campaign against vandalism and infrastructure theft

THE Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has initiated a safety awareness campaign to combat vandalism and theft of its infrastructure. The objective of this initiative is to gather insights from commuters regarding the reinstatement of train services in Merebank and Chatsworth.

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Commuters can expect heightened security measures and increased awareness efforts as Prasa leads the charge in safeguarding public transportation assets.

Prasa teams are actively encouraging residents to report criminal activities to the authorities.

The spokesperson for Metrorail in KZN, Zama Mtshana Nomnganga, said, “We are also discussing issues of stone-throwing, theft and vandalism of Prasa’s infrastructure. The safety programmes were being held from Merebank train station to Chartsglen.”

Prasa teams are engaging with commuters to assess their satisfaction with the service while addressing concerns such as stone-throwing, theft and vandalism of Prasa’s infrastructure along the Merebank to Chartsglen route.

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The restoration of train services in KZN has garnered praise from commuters in Durban and its surrounding areas. These services, reinstated on March 28, encompass the Merebank to Chatsglen railway line. However, this shuttle service serves as a temporary solution while infrastructure repairs are underway due to disruptions caused by Covid-19, vandalism, crime and inadequate maintenance practices under previous management.

The Merebank to Chatsworth train service was halted years ago due to extensive damage and theft of infrastructure, prompting Prasa to suspend operations in Durban.

Prasa emphasised its commitment to revitalising passenger rail services, with 31 out of 40 lines now partially operational, aiming for full operational capacity in these corridors.

Prasa said in a statement, “We have successfully brought 31 of our 40 lines back into partial operation and are focused on achieving full operational status for these corridors. The milestone demonstrates our commitment to revitalising passenger rail services, providing an efficient and cost-effective public transport option for South Africans.”

Commuters are urged to adhere to the rules and regulations of the new trains and familiarise themselves with the provided train schedules at stations and on Prasa KZN communication platforms.

For further inquiries, commuters are encouraged to contact the customer care help desk between 06:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday, at 031 813 0456 or via WhatsApp on 066 014 6105.

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