The minister of transport, Joe Maswanganyi, has directed the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to expedite the investigation into the cause of the collision of the two Metrorail trains at the Geldenhuys Station, in Germiston, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Both these trains were authorised to travel on the same line toward Springs from Johannesburg. Investigators on the scene classified this crash as a rear-end-vision on the platform and a comprehensive investigation is underway.<\/p>
It is estimated that about 226 passengers were injured with 67 sustaining moderate injuries and 159 sustaining minor injuries.<\/p>\n
Most of these injuries were as a result of the emergency brakes being applied by the driver of the incoming train.<\/p>
Minister Maswanganyi has directed Prasa to fast-track its plans to modernise rail services in South Africa. This includes expediting the process to replace all existing signaling interlocking, which consists mainly of obsolete mechanical and electro-mechanical systems, with electronic interlocking as the technology of choice.<\/p>\n
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RELATED ARTICLES:<\/span><\/p>\n Update: Board of inquiry to probe train collision<\/a><\/p>\n Collision update: Trains were using same track<\/a><\/p>\n Germiston train collision leaves scores injured<\/a><\/p>\n Update: RSR issues prohibition directive to Prasa for manual train authorisations<\/a><\/p>\n Update: Prasa responds to the RSR prohibition directive<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA budget of about R5.6-billion has been set aside for the signalling modernisation from 2015 to 2018, as we know that our rail network has previously been characterised by years of disinvestment.<\/p>\n \u201cCable theft remains one of the major challenges that keeps undermining our determination and efforts to provide a safe and secure railway experience for all South Africans,\u201d said Minister Maswanganyi.<\/p>\n Minister Maswanganyi called on communities, civil society and business to work together with government to secure the railway network from all criminals who are hell-bent on vandalising the railway network system for economic benefits.<\/p>\n Prasa will give the injured and their families the needed comfort and support during this period via the Metrorail walk-in centre located at 30 Wolmarans Street, Umjantshi House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.<\/p>\n For further assistance commuters who were involved in the crash and their immediate families can call 011 013 0067.<\/p>\n Minister Maswanganyi wishes all the injured a speedy recovery.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n