R9.3bn rail planned

2009-07-06 13:15

Johannesburg - A R9.3bn commuter rail line between Pretoria and Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga is being planned by government, Business Report said on Monday.

The newspaper quoted department of transport spokesperson Sam Monareng as saying the money would be spent to provide "a faster, safer, cheaper service with bigger capacity for commuters to enhance the corridor's economic development".

The 140km line was intended to ease bottlenecks for workers in the Tshwane metropolitan areas who used buses and taxis on the Moloto route.

"The route connects rural communities in the western regions of Mpumalanga and the Nkangala and Sekhukhune districts of Limpopo," the newspaper said.

The project was approved in March last year by the Cabinet following a feasibility study.

"The bus system appears to have reached its capacity and is no longer cost effective," Monareng told Business Report.

"The rail mode, combined with road feeder services, has the potential of being more cost effective and accommodating future passenger volume increases suitably."

Over 800 jobs would be created during construction of the rail link.

It would generate 600 permanent jobs and about 8200 indirect jobs would be created at the development nodes along the corridor, the newspaper added.

The rail line would be the first phase of the Moloto corridor as a second phase would link Siyabuswa to Sekhukhune in Limpopo and Burgersfort in Mpumalanga.

However, Monareng said the second phase was not under consideration at present.

- SAPA