The centre in Kempton Park is part of Prasa's R172bn modernisation programme and cost R155m. It is expected to improve train punctuality and safety. Signalling equipment will also be overhauled in Gauteng (R3.8bn), Durban (R1.3bn) and Cape Town (R1.8bn).
In July, 400 people were injured in a train crash in Johannesburg caused by faulty signals. The Railway Safety Regulator has since instituted an audit of Prasa's signalling system in Gauteng and a report on the matter is due to be released soon.
Prasa is testing some of the 70 locomotives procured at almost R5bn from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh Espana for its long-distance Shosholoza Meyl service. A Railway Safety Regulator report on whether the locomotives are safe to operate commercially is expected within two weeks. Next month, the first of 600 trains will arrive from Brazil, as part of Prasa's R51bn order from Gibela Rail Consortium, of which Alstom Southern Africa Holdings is a majority shareholder.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Gauteng Nerve Centre, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters described the centre as the first of its kind on the continent.
"Those 600 trains that we have invested in are coming. Hence it is important that we get our act right. There were challenges in the first locomotives and that is why I said we owe the people of SA the Railways Safety Regulator report. Making an investment of this nature after years of no investment, is bound to have hiccups and teething problems," she said.
Gauteng premier David Makhura urged Prasa to focus on its "core mandate" of creating a modern passenger rail system. "Prasa is too important a state-owned enterprise to be allowed to fail. We need the new trains with urgency to move more than one million people daily," Makhura said.
Prasa's 24 stations in Gauteng will be resignalled and connected to the nerve centre, which will begin operating next year. There are also plans to connect the Gautrain to the nerve centre.
Prasa board director Mashila Matlala said the centre was the answer to years of underinvestment in rail infrastructure.
Source: Business Day
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