Despite not having operational control over rail, which is a national government competency, the DA governments of the Western Cape and City of Cape Town have done the following:
Contributed R4 million for 25 scrambler bikes to patrol stations in Area Central, and 12 high mast lights at to improve safety;
The Western Cape Government is offering R100 000 to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of people linked to train arson;
In a joint initiative with PRASA, providing 100 Rail Enforcement Officers at a projected cost of R48 million per year to make trains safer – 70% of the budget coming from our governments; and
Established a Rail Management Task Team.
We will continue to make progress by:
Fighting to take over the management of the rail system in the province from national government so that the trains work and run on time; and
Introducing competition by licensing private sector operators to take over the operation of the railways system on qualifying routes in the Western Cape.
We will also:
Introduce a combined ticketing system to be used on all modes of public transport; and
Invest in new infrastructure and allocate more funding to ease congestion in the most economically active areas in the Western Cape.
We understand that rail is essential to safe and reliable public transport and essential to the running of the economy.
If Metrorail is given to the DA Provincial Government to run, we will make sure that the people of Cape Town have reliable trains that are on time, clean and safe.