Pretoria - Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has called on the Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA) and the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) to accelerate the testing into the signalling system between Johannesburg - Naledi and Booysen - New Canada.
This follows the Booysen train crash that took place on Friday which resulted in over 100 people sustaining various injuries.
According to a statement on Saturday, both the RSR and PRASA have assured Minister Peters that the entire operation will be concluded around 5pm on Sunday.
“Government remains committed to provide a reliable, safe and cost effective rail service to the people of South Africa,” said the department.
The RSR said that it had initiated an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the rear-end collision between the two Metrorail trains.
According to the RSR train number 9934 was stationery at a red signal just before Crown station at the time of the collision. The second train number 9404, departed from Booysens station. The signals were yellow for the second train, which indicated that it should proceed with caution as the subsequent signal would be red.
“During the investigation, the RSR discovered that the stationary train was not amply protected due to a defective signalling system. The signals which were supposed to protect train 9934 were observed to be yellow, when instead, it should have been red. This resulted in the rear-end collision between the two trains, where 239 people were injured,” explained the RSR.
All the injured were referred to the nearest hospitals for medical attention. Some, including the driver of the second train, have already been discharged. The collision also resulted in the derailment of some of the coaches, as well as minor damage to infrastructure.
“The RSR is of the view that the defective signalling system in the section between Kazerne and New Canada Stations is an immediate threat to safe railway operations. The RSR has therefore taken the decision to issue a prohibition directive with immediate effect on the utilization of the signalling system as a primary mode of train protection.”
In addition, PRASA is required to submit an assessment report to the RSR on the integrity of the signalling system in the entire Gauteng region. The assessment should be conducted by an independent competent individual.
The prohibition directive for Karzene to New Canada Station will only be lifted once PRASA demonstrates to the RSR’s satisfaction that the immediate threats have been addressed.
A preliminary report will be issued by the RSR by close of business on Monday, 20 July 2015.
The RSR will also conduct an independent Board of Inquiry to establish the root cause as well as to produce a report with findings and recommendations. – SAnews.gov.za
