MEC: Threats to burn Gautrain absurd
2013-03-18 19:24
-
Metrorail Western Cape
Metrorail Western Cape is a network of commuter and suburban rail services in the metropolitan area...
Now R889.00
buy now
Johannesburg - Threats by commuters to burn down the Gautrain
are "absurd", Gauteng Transport and Roads MEC Ismail Vadi said on
Monday.
"In a country where costly transport infrastructure
development has taken centre stage in the National Development Plan, it will be
absolutely absurd to threaten to destroy existing transport and rail
infrastructure," Vadi said in a statement.
On Wednesday, a group of irate commuters threatened to
torch Gautrain coaches if the authorities did not urgently improve the
Metrorail train service.
They had gathered outside the Bosman Railway Station, in
Pretoria, to demand improved service from Metrorail.
Relying on the train service had been a frustrating
experience for thousands of commuters, said protest leader Reuben Rathelele.
He said the transport department did not do a proper
needs analysis for the majority of South Africans when it invested in the
Gautrain.
Vadi said the Gauteng region was an integrated cluster of
cities, towns and urban nodes, which together made up the economic heartland of
South Africa.
"The backbone of this economic heartland is rail as
a mode of public transport."
A plan by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa)
prioritised Metrorail to develop a "super rail corridor" which
included the Mabopane-Pretoria, Pretoria-Germiston-Johannesburg, and the
Johannesburg-Soweto corridors.
"Let us stand and work together towards an efficient
and sustainable passenger rail system that works for all, instead of
threatening to destroy key public transport infrastructure," said Vadi.
- SAPA
