Photo by: Creamer Media
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has welcomed the issuing of an operating permit by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), which is valid for 29 months.
The agency was able to satisfy the requirements set out by the RSR for the issuing of a safety permit. The safety permit authorises PRASA to conduct its railway operations in line with the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, which requires that all railway operators have a valid safety permit.
The RSR requires railway operators to have a documented Safety Management System. The holder of the safety permit must have demonstrated, among other things, the capability to mitigate the identified risks and achieve the set safety goals and objectives, PRASA added.
“The safety and security of our passengers, employees, contractors, assets and the communities around our network remain pillars of everything. We have bolstered the use of technology and more visible security personnel to enhance passenger safety and security. This safety permit bolsters our resolve to build the PRASA that our stakeholders can be proud of,” says PRASA Group CEO Hishaam Emeran.
“We are pleased that the RSR has granted us this permit because it gives business operational certainty. It also allows us to focus on our accelerated corridor recovery program to bring back more trains along key routes,” he adds.
In the past financial year, PRASA’s turnaround has gained momentum with the reopening of critical corridors, including the recent opening of the Nyanga to Langa leg of the Central Line in Cape Town. The turnaround has included refurbishing stations and rail infrastructure and improving passenger and asset security, says Emeran.