The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is strengthening passenger rail services in Gauteng after completing 865 kilometres of overhead electrical equipment, recovering 51 substations and rehabilitating 187 kilometres of track.
The work has created 4 619 jobs in the province.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy outlined the progress on Thursday during a visit to the Mabopane rail line, where she assessed efforts to restore services as part of October Transport Month. This year’s campaign is being observed under the theme: “Building a safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable transport system.”
Along the Pretoria, Mabopane and De Wildt corridor, PRASA has invested approximately R801.6 million in overhead electrical equipment, substations, signalling and telecommunications.
The work includes 163 kilometres of overhead equipment and the refurbishment of 14 substations. Several facilities first had to be rebuilt following extensive vandalism before electrical work could begin.
“The railway that has emerged is also more capable than before. Traction transformer capacity has increased, and upgraded feeder wires now carry more current. Together, these provide the electrical foundation for additional trains as the rest of the system is readied.
“Modern installations use less copper, which makes them less attractive to thieves, and containment structures around transformers help to guard against oil spills,” the Minister said.
Protective barriers
To safeguard railway infrastructure, PRASA is constructing 3.5-metre-high concrete walls, steel-mesh fencing, high-security gates and other perimeter protection measures along the Mabopane corridor.
“The walls are designed to limit unauthorised access, reduce theft and vandalism, and improve safety for passengers and staff around stations, platforms and crossings. They also lay a foundation for surveillance, monitoring and emergency response,” Creecy said.
Three work packages cover the route from Mabopane through Kopanong to Mountain View, as well as the section from Pretoria Station to Wolmerton.
The programme spans approximately 58 kilometres and has a combined contract value of about R1.04 billion.
“Close to 37 kilometres have been installed, and the programme stands at about half of its overall scope. It has employed 284 members of the local community and engaged 22 small businesses.
“Physical barriers reduce risk, although they cannot remove every hazard. Their value depends on secure access points, surveillance, enforcement and the daily discipline of everyone who works on this railway,” she said.
The Minister appealed to communities to help protect public infrastructure and report theft and vandalism, warning that the effects of stolen equipment extend far beyond the loss of the asset itself.
“Services are disrupted, public money must be spent a second time, and commuters lose a service on which they depend. PRASA, for its part, will continue to work closely with law enforcement to act on these reports,” she said.
Mabopane–Pretoria train services
The Mabopane–Pretoria service operated 613 train trips in 2020/21. By 2025/26, this had increased to 11 144 trips.
Together with the Belle Ombre service, the Mabopane routes delivered 17 886 train trips in 2025/26, up from 13 087 the previous year - an increase of about 37%.
The current service plan provides for 81 daily trips: 57 between Mabopane and Pretoria, and 24 between Mabopane and Belle Ombre. During peak periods, Pretoria services operate at intervals of about 23 minutes.
Creecy said Belle Ombre services operate less frequently, adding that commuters on both routes deserve clear information to help them plan their journeys with confidence.
She added that passengers are returning to rail.
In 2024/25, the combined Mabopane services carried approximately 5.2 million passenger trips. In 2025/26, the figure rose to approximately 7.1 million - growth of about 36%.
“Up to September this year, the services have recorded close to 5 million passenger trips and more than 10,400 train trips.
“Behind each of these journeys stands a person: a worker, a student, a parent, a commuter returning to rail as the service becomes more dependable. Our task is to earn their confidence, and to keep it.
“Reliability lies at the heart of that confidence. On the Mabopane to Pretoria service, punctuality currently stands at about 97.5 per cent, with cancellations at 0.7 per cent. On the Belle Ombre service, punctuality is about 99%, with cancellations below one per cent,” the Minister said.
Creecy welcomed the rise in customer satisfaction to about 77%, noting that the progress underscores the need for government to keep listening to what passengers value and to the challenges they continue to face.
“Safety, cleanliness, station access and clear information all shape the journey. When a train is cancelled, the passenger deserves timely announcements, accurate information and practical assistance,” the Minister said. -SAnews.gov.za
