The Railway Safety Regulator's (RSR's) 'State of Safety Report 2023/2024' showed that there was a 12.82% increase in operational incidents from the prior year owing to new risks and trends, with 2 496 operational incidents reported during the year.
In terms of injuries and fatalities, 85 lives were tragically lost and 181 people sustained injuries, although there was an encouraging decrease in the Fatality and Injury Rate, which highlights some improvement in safety protocols compared to prior years.
Security-related incidents decreased by 15.19% to 7 420. This was offset by a rise in fatalities within railway reserves, which highlights an urgent need for bolstered security in these areas, the regulator notes.
Further, the two principal operators, from among 212 safety permit holders, namely Transnet Freight Rail and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, respectively saw a modest reduction in kilometres travelled and experienced a substantial increase of over 116%, marking a resurgence in passenger rail use.
The State of Safety Report offers a detailed account of the state of railway safety in South Africa and operational and security concerns that directly impact passenger and freight services. It serves as a vital assessment, and explores challenges and innovative solutions within the rail sector, the RSR says.
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
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