BUSINESS NEWS
Rail infrastructure continues to shrink
Posted Mon, 26 Jun 2006
Rail transport infrastructure in South Africa has shrunk over the past 12 years, the response to a parliamentary question by the Democratic Alliance has revealed. DA transport spokesperson Stuart Farrow said on Sunday that the response showed a failure by government to provide new railway lines, as total route distance had remained at 22 300km for the past 12 years. "The electrified route distance has only increased by about 200km from 9340km to 9570km."
The DA requested figures from Metrorail and Spoornet for the period between 1994 and 2006, which showed that South Africa's fleet of electric locomotives had decreased from 2176 to 1914. Diesel locomotives had decreased from 1400 to 1249 and the fleet of coaches from 4206 to 2711. "The state of our country's infrastructure is key to South Africa's prospects for economic growth and our ability both to attract foreign investment and ensure that opportunities for local business grow. "Crucial to this is the
role that South Africa's railway lines play, chiefly in linking ports and harbours with the rest of the country," said Farrow.
He said the shrinking fleet meant less access for the large proportion of South Africans who depend on public transport. "Further, in four years, South Africa will be hosting the football world cup. With that will come a large amount of new investment and, indeed, the need for new infrastructure, including increased pressure on public transport. If that process is to be a success then the country needs a railway system that can cope with this increased pressure."
Sapa
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