The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) has issued the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) with a Prohibition Directive for operating under conditions which might be a threat to safe railway operations, which lead to the collision at the Geldenhuys station.

The directive prohibits Prasa from manually authorising trains until normal train services are restored or until Prasa can provide the RSR with a comprehensive and convincing action plan for all affected areas in all the provinces where Metrorail trains operate.

Prasa has no means to prevent accidents in degraded mode – RSR

The RSR announced its decision in a statement on Wednesday morning:

“On 19 June 2017, following the train collision at Elandsfontein, the RSR issued Prasa with a Prohibition Directive.  Prasa was subsequently instructed to cease operating trains in the Prasa Gauteng Region under abnormal working conditions.

“In response to the directive, Prasa issued correspondence to the RSR undertaking to ensure safe train operations during degraded conditions.  However, on the morning of 9 January two Metrorail trains were involved in a rear-end collision at the Geldenhuys station.

“This accident convinced the RSR that Prasa does not have the means to prevent accidents from happening during degraded mode when manual authorisations are undertaken.”

Failure to comply an offense

The RSR said the prohibition applies with immediate effect and will be in force nationally.

The regulator adds that failure to comply with the Directive is an offense in terms of Section 45 of Act 16 of 2002 as amended and will result in criminal charges and/or a penalty being imposed in terms of the Penalty Fee Regulations 2011 as amended.