A 4am start to the day to catch a train from KwaMashu to Durban on an unusually chilly morning felt a lot like punishment.
From my experience, riding trains is generally unsafe due to robberies, it is congested and uncomfortable, and it randomly stops without anyone providing any reason.
One can also easily get lost if they are not familiar with their jump-off stop, as there is no update about on whereabouts.
So the assignment to board the recently launched Isitemela Sabantu (people’s train) along with transport minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) group CEO Hishaam Emeran and Prasa acting chairperson Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo held some promise, except for the crack of dawn departure.
Passengers can travel from KwaMashu to Durban station and back for just R15. This is mainly because the train fees have been subsidised.
The train ride, which cost me R7.50, was by far the most interesting 45-minute train ride experience I’ve ever had.
There was no jostling, crowding or fear of getting lost or mugged.
There are security guards in every second compartment and camera monitors.
The blue and white train has a modern look outside and inside; it caters for disabled and elderly people, with seats dedicated to them.
The train does not have windows that open. Instead the temperature is controlled by air conditioners that adjust to the weather conditions.
The train also senses, using weight, the number of commuters in the train and decides the amount of air it should let through the air conditioning.
The big glass windows, however, do form part of an emergency exit, where one of the officials explained that when the need arises, the window can be kicked hard, and it will open.
Though the trip was a bit longer compared to buses and taxis, the ride felt comfortable and safe, considering the overhead cameras and visible security officers.
On each carriage, there is a display screen showing the next station at which it will stop, as well as ongoing announcements about each stop.
The trains were manufactured by Gibela after it signed a R51bn contract to supply Prasa with 600 six-car trains for its Metrorail service in 2013.
Prasa is looking to phase out the old yellow and grey trains.
According to Prasa, the reopening of the corridor cost R94m, and about R230m has been spent so far on fixing infrastructure damage to about eight lines in KwaZulu-Natal.
The R94m was spent on the replacement of the new electrical components, railway subways and other infrastructure that was damaged by the floods and stolen during the 2021 July unrest.
For Muzi Ndebele, 46, who travelled from KwaMashu to Durban station, said the resumption of the train services was a huge relief on his pocket.
“For years, I have been riding trains, and after the flood and everything, we were forced to use alternative means. It was expensive, and I used to spend over R50 a day for a return trip. Now that I spend less than R20, I am more than just happy. Not all of us can afford buses and taxis, so we will be able to save and add more to the food we put on the table. It will be nice if they add another train of this nature, as many people will come back and it will be packed,” said Ndebele.
Another commuter said he hoped that the new features would help curb criminal activities on trains.
“It’s very clean and comfortable. There are a lot of robberies on trains, and at least now with the cameras, they will be able to track the criminals,” he said.
Speaking during the launch at Durban station, Chikunga said the new modernised trains were gradually introduced after a no-objection certificate from the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR).
“The good news is that on this KwaMashu to Durban corridor, we are recording an increase in passenger numbers. We move almost 71,000 passengers on this corridor. These numbers are expected to grow as work continues to recover services to Umlazi.
The recovery of the rail infrastructure and services continues in KZN, with the Durban to Crossmoor and the Pinetown corridor earmarked for this financial year,” said Chikunga.
Chikunga said statistics show that since the recovery of services, over 2-million people were moved in the last financial year. To date, the KZN region has transported 3.8-million passengers, and a further 102 stations are earmarked for recovery in this region.
Meanwhile, the service has been partially rolled out in the Western Cape where there is a “spat” between the department of transport and City of Cape Town over the relocation of informal settlements occupying the city's central line.
Prasa CEO Hishaam Emeran said they were ready to move with phase 2 of the recovery of the line and that contracts had been awarded.
Emeran said while some of the work has started, for Prasa to meet its timelines, long-term relocation plans have to be resolved and confirmed.
The first phase saw the reopening of the line to Bellville which became operational in July 2022, albeit with limited service.
Phase 2 will see the line opened all the way to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. Emeran said the recovery project, which will include revival of electrical and track infrastructure and station improvement, will cost about R550m.
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