The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) would be acquiring 600 new coaches “of the highest quality” over the next 12 years., SARCC CE Lucky Montana told journalists at the Soweto Business Express (SBE) launch on Tuesday.

“We will have new generation trains comparable to Japan by 2010/11,” he stated.

The SARCC was spending R16-billion over the next three years on upgrading and infrastructure development, Montana said.

R7-billion will be spent on improving 2 000 coaches, upgrading 50 stations, including New Canada, Langa, Naledi and Kwa Mashu, and R6-billion on operations, with R3-billion on improving signage and infrastructure.

The SARCC also planned on equipping 30% of train stations with lifts and ramps by 2010 in an effort to make them accessible to people with disabilities, Montana said.

There are 473 stations countrywide.

Government had allocated R8,5-billion for passenger rail infrastructure, R8,2-billion for public transport infrastructure excluding rail, R5,5-billion for national roads infrastructure, R9,2-billion for the 2010 public transport infrastructure development and R19,2-billion for airports infrastructure over a period of five years, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said.

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