Date: 20/11/2006
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Launch of 10M5 coach
Address at the launch of the 10M5 coach by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, Tshwane
Executive Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa
MEC Ignatius Jacobs
SARCC CEO, Lucky Montana
Chairperson of SARCC Board Zukile Nomvete
SARCC Board Members
Councillors present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The acceleration of rolling stock by the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) Metrorail is a crucial programme in the development of South Africa's goods and passenger rail system. Our economy essentially depends on the effectiveness of public transport infrastructure planning and services. Through this course of action we need to drastically pursue our Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and our first and second economy interventions with special investment plans in our infrastructure and our rail system is not an exception.
The 10M5 coaches that are in the picture today is a milestone in the SARCC Metrorail coach-upgrading programme, and we cannot be complacent until our economy is aggressively driven by an overall competitive and sustainable public transport system.
The SARCC Metrorail's Accelerated Rolling Stock Programme will continue to put its weight on rail infrastructure and fleet upgrading especially the 10M5 ahead of the 2010 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup as well as future plans for passenger and goods demands. This is an urgent matter as part of the revitalisation programme of our rail transport system. The company has invested about R40 million towards the upgrading programme. In the future we must consider operating our coaches for 18 as opposed to the current 10 hours. Over the next three years, as part of meeting 2010 passenger needs, we will refurbish 1600 coaches currently operational. While we welcome and acknowledge the rational behind standardization of our trains into the 10M4's and 10M5, which enhances better customer services, there is a need that as we look into the future beyond 2010, we consider recapitalising our trains.
Ladies and gentlemen our revitalisation plan is immense and is aimed at spending billions of rands on upgrading leading to the 2010 FIFA world Cup. The new revitalised 10M5 trains must help us in the short-term address the ongoing challenge of overcrowding inside our trains, train cancellations which at times leaves commuters stranded. This train with three doors per coach also provide for proper passenger movement. The SARCC-Metrorail rolling stock modernising programme started in 1999. The first set of the 10M4 coaches were delivered in Gauteng in the second half of 2001. In 2002 the 10M3 were delivered in Cape Town. During Transport Month last year, a further 36 coaches were delivered in KwaZulu-Natal.
We are aware of the challenges of safety, security and passenger comfort. The 10M5 coach will address issues of safety and comfort and sustainability. We will work with Municipalities and Provincial Local Governments to ensure that we have enough coaches in services to cope with passenger demands.
The train we are assembling is boosted with the following features:
* safety features
* a complete new body and improved commuter comfort
* control systems constructed from an innovative modular manufacturing system.
As an offshoot to these features, commuters will enjoy better seating, lighting suitable for reading and ventilation, improved braking and electronic interiors. The 10M5 design will be used in the Western Cape, Tshwane and Durban while Wits will utilise the 10M4 design. As the above programme develops, more and more of these trains will be seen nationally.
The general overhaul and purchasing of new coaches is well placed to affirm the continued strength of rail which includes:
* Efficient mass people mover (A full rail coach which transports between 85 and 120 people).
* Reduction in congestion – A full train would place over 100 taxis or 300 to 380 cars on our roads.
* Reduction of motorcar emissions by 80% as rail uses electricity.
I must stress that intermodal transport is one of the fundamental objectives of my department, as it will create a national transport infrastructure of accessible, appropriate and reliable facilities that will provide easy access and meet peoples' demands. My department is also taking safety and security interventions to minimise accidents within the rail system such as good signalling systems, technical training of rail staff and warning systems to alert traffic that interfere with the rail crossing systems.
Most of you are aware that we recently witnessed a tragic train accident in Cape Town when one of our coaches collided with a truck transporting farm workers. The accident has to date claimed about 20 lives, injuring more than 10 passengers. Our heartfelt condolences to families and friends, in this regard government is working earnestly to ensure that stringent safety measures are put in place to prevent such incidents and to make sure that they are minimised in our rail commuter systems. The new coaches are an answer to addressing the ageing commuter rail fleet.
This new brand train set has cost the SARCC-Metrorail R40 million to refurbish it to this world-class status.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, I must emphasise that the new 10M5 marks another success in SARCC-Metrorail's commitment to enhancing commuter rail transformation through a better and reliable infrastructure and rolling stock programme. Our commitment to halve poverty by 2014 requires us to extensively invest in all sectors of the economy and achieve competitive growth. This calls for both government and the private sector and the public to utilise available resources economically to the benefit of everyone.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
20 November 2006
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Launch of 10M5 coach
Address at the launch of the 10M5 coach by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, Tshwane
Executive Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa
MEC Ignatius Jacobs
SARCC CEO, Lucky Montana
Chairperson of SARCC Board Zukile Nomvete
SARCC Board Members
Councillors present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The acceleration of rolling stock by the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) Metrorail is a crucial programme in the development of South Africa's goods and passenger rail system. Our economy essentially depends on the effectiveness of public transport infrastructure planning and services. Through this course of action we need to drastically pursue our Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and our first and second economy interventions with special investment plans in our infrastructure and our rail system is not an exception.
The 10M5 coaches that are in the picture today is a milestone in the SARCC Metrorail coach-upgrading programme, and we cannot be complacent until our economy is aggressively driven by an overall competitive and sustainable public transport system.
The SARCC Metrorail's Accelerated Rolling Stock Programme will continue to put its weight on rail infrastructure and fleet upgrading especially the 10M5 ahead of the 2010 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup as well as future plans for passenger and goods demands. This is an urgent matter as part of the revitalisation programme of our rail transport system. The company has invested about R40 million towards the upgrading programme. In the future we must consider operating our coaches for 18 as opposed to the current 10 hours. Over the next three years, as part of meeting 2010 passenger needs, we will refurbish 1600 coaches currently operational. While we welcome and acknowledge the rational behind standardization of our trains into the 10M4's and 10M5, which enhances better customer services, there is a need that as we look into the future beyond 2010, we consider recapitalising our trains.
Ladies and gentlemen our revitalisation plan is immense and is aimed at spending billions of rands on upgrading leading to the 2010 FIFA world Cup. The new revitalised 10M5 trains must help us in the short-term address the ongoing challenge of overcrowding inside our trains, train cancellations which at times leaves commuters stranded. This train with three doors per coach also provide for proper passenger movement. The SARCC-Metrorail rolling stock modernising programme started in 1999. The first set of the 10M4 coaches were delivered in Gauteng in the second half of 2001. In 2002 the 10M3 were delivered in Cape Town. During Transport Month last year, a further 36 coaches were delivered in KwaZulu-Natal.
We are aware of the challenges of safety, security and passenger comfort. The 10M5 coach will address issues of safety and comfort and sustainability. We will work with Municipalities and Provincial Local Governments to ensure that we have enough coaches in services to cope with passenger demands.
The train we are assembling is boosted with the following features:
* safety features
* a complete new body and improved commuter comfort
* control systems constructed from an innovative modular manufacturing system.
As an offshoot to these features, commuters will enjoy better seating, lighting suitable for reading and ventilation, improved braking and electronic interiors. The 10M5 design will be used in the Western Cape, Tshwane and Durban while Wits will utilise the 10M4 design. As the above programme develops, more and more of these trains will be seen nationally.
The general overhaul and purchasing of new coaches is well placed to affirm the continued strength of rail which includes:
* Efficient mass people mover (A full rail coach which transports between 85 and 120 people).
* Reduction in congestion – A full train would place over 100 taxis or 300 to 380 cars on our roads.
* Reduction of motorcar emissions by 80% as rail uses electricity.
I must stress that intermodal transport is one of the fundamental objectives of my department, as it will create a national transport infrastructure of accessible, appropriate and reliable facilities that will provide easy access and meet peoples' demands. My department is also taking safety and security interventions to minimise accidents within the rail system such as good signalling systems, technical training of rail staff and warning systems to alert traffic that interfere with the rail crossing systems.
Most of you are aware that we recently witnessed a tragic train accident in Cape Town when one of our coaches collided with a truck transporting farm workers. The accident has to date claimed about 20 lives, injuring more than 10 passengers. Our heartfelt condolences to families and friends, in this regard government is working earnestly to ensure that stringent safety measures are put in place to prevent such incidents and to make sure that they are minimised in our rail commuter systems. The new coaches are an answer to addressing the ageing commuter rail fleet.
This new brand train set has cost the SARCC-Metrorail R40 million to refurbish it to this world-class status.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, I must emphasise that the new 10M5 marks another success in SARCC-Metrorail's commitment to enhancing commuter rail transformation through a better and reliable infrastructure and rolling stock programme. Our commitment to halve poverty by 2014 requires us to extensively invest in all sectors of the economy and achieve competitive growth. This calls for both government and the private sector and the public to utilise available resources economically to the benefit of everyone.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
20 November 2006
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