Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Dr Ismail Vadi, has called on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) to improve commuter safety.
The MEC’s comments come after a collision between two passenger trains in Booysens, south of Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
More than 100 people were injured in the accident, with seven people sustaining serious injuries.
“We are deeply shocked by this accident and would like to take this opportunity to wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. We are calling on PRASA, together with the Railway Safety Regulator, to look at this matter further and undertake urgent measures to improve commuter safety,” said Vadi.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport said Metrorail train 9708, travelling from Faraday towards New Canada, is said to have collided head-on with a Naledi-Jikeleza Train 9949 at around 7am. The collision took place while trains were manually authorised in the section due to the signalling upgrade currently underway. – SAnews.gov.za
