Prasa has set a target of having close to 80% of its original 40 operational corridors functioning by March 2024.This is still a far cry, however, from the 500 million passengers it transported in the year ended March 2015. Having spent its entire capital budget allocation, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA has set a target of having close to 80% of its original 40 operational corridors functioning by March 2024.
"We are targeting to be operating 32 corridors by the end of this financial year," Prasa group chief executive officer Hishaam Emeran told the transport portfolio committee of parliament on Tuesday. Railway infrastructure, including electrical cabling and railway tracks, was looted and carted away either for sale as scrap metal or cable, while station infrastructure was stolen and carried off for building purposes elsewhere.
To continue increasing passenger numbers, Prasa is investing in capital infrastructure and additional security for train lines. During the year ended March 2023, Prasa exceeded its budgeted capital expenditure, with R13.5 billion having been spent on capital infrastructure, compared to the R12.6 billion allocated.This is the first time in the history of Prasa that the full capital budget has been executed, and we are very encouraged by that.There were 146 train sets running as of March 2023.