Dear Portfolio Committee On Transport,

As the loyal member and REC Chairperson of United Commuters Voice - Tshwane Region, I'd like to make a submission pertaining to the resuscitation of long-distance train services and the proposals for the introduction of Rural-Metro services in the Gauteng Province whereby all the train services will depart from Johannesburg and Pretoria to various destined small cities in other provinces like Northwest, Limpopo & Mpumalanga respectively.

This is where the division of Transnet (FreightRail) & PRASA (Passenger Service - Metrorail & Shosholoza-Meyl) would have to play more innovative roles to bring about the dignity restoration of the public railway transportation in the Republic. We are all well aware of the condition & current state of our railway infrastructure aftermath of unprecedented vandalism and destruction, however, that doesn't have to limit us from exploring other avenues of potential jobs creation & small business opportunities. Putting the commercial train service proposals on the table from the public will assist our government with means of combating the high rate of unemployment and the railway is the missing puzzle piece to create these opportunities.

In order to achieve these proposals, the divisions of Transnet - Freightrail & PRASA - Metrorail & Shosholoza Meyl should be merged into one railway operators entity whereby they will be able to operate efficiently; reliably, and share railway expertise being it in new infrastructure technologies; innovations; manufacturing; maintenance; joint tracks control & secure operations without safety bridges or compromise - which will allow a room for more commercial growth developments in order to align the operations to be of the international standards; long-term sustainability; financial stability & profitability in avoidance of revenue losses due to fruitless & irregular expenditures.

Our commercial proposals for resuscitation and introduction of new urban; rural metro train services and long-distance train services are influenced by the development of new residential townships; tourism; business development & industrial park as well.

Herein below are our proposed urban & rural train services:

1). Urban Metro Train Services
1.1. Jo'burg - Klerksdorp via Krugersdorp & Potchefstroom
1.2. Jo'burg - Heidelberg via Germiston
1.3. Pretoria - Emalahleni (Witbank) via Mamelodi
2). Rural Metro Train Services
2.1. Pretoria - Rustenberg via Brits
2.2. Pretoria - Hammanskraal
2.3. Jo'burg - Magaliesberg via Krugersdorp
2.4. Jo'burg - Ventersdorp via Carltonville/ Oberholzer
2.5. Jo'burg - Orkney via Randfontein

3). Long-distance Mainline Train Service
3.1. Pretoria - Thabazimbi via Brits; Mogwase & Northam
3.2. Jo'burg - Louis Trichardt via Pretoria; Hoedspruit & Phalaborwa
3.3. Jo'burg - Mbombela (Nelspruit) via Pretoria; Belfast & Machadodorp
3.4. Jo'burg - Bethlehem via Balfour & Frankfort
3.5. Jo'burg - Litchenburg via Coligny
3.6. Jo'burg - Kimberley via Schwartzer Reneke
3.7. Jo'burg - Bloemfontein via Kroonstad
3.8. Jo'burg - Mahikeng via Zeerust
3.9. Jo'burg - Senegal via Heilbron

4). Future Railway Development & Expansions
4.1. Pretoria - Siyabuswa (Moloto Corridor) Via Kwa Mhlanga; Moteti & Kgobokwane
4.2. Pienaarsrivier – Groblersdal via Pankop; Settlers; Malebitsa & Marble Hall
4.3. Pretoria - Refilwe via Mamelodi & Cullinan
4.4. Pretoria - Ekangala via Mamelodi; Rayton; Bronkhorstspruit
4.5. Pretoria - Magaliesberg via Hermanstad, Claremont & Kirkney
4.6. Pretoria - Madidi via Rosslyn Gardens; Garankuwa; Kgabalatsane & Klipgat
4.7. Pretoria - Letlhabile via De Wildt (Mmakau) & Oukasie
4.8. Pretoria - Ifafi (Hartebeespoort) via Atteridgeville
4.9. Pretoria - Ga Motle via Winterveld; New Eersterus
4.10. Pretoria - Zebediela via Nystroom & Naboomspruit
4.11. Pretoria - Jane Furse via Dullstroom; Lydenburg; Burgersfort & Steelpoort
4.12. Naledi (Soweto) - Randfontein via Mohlakeng
4.13. Jo'burg - Bekkersdal via Naledi (Soweto) & Protea Glen
4.14. Jo'burg - Diepsloot via Roodepoort; Lanseria; Cosmo City & Mulderdrift
4.15. Jo'burg - Emalahleni (Witbank) via Springs; Delmas & Ogies

We hope that there will be more engagements with the relevant departments for more deliberations on these submitted proposals.

Thank you very much for affording time to read throughout the correspondence.

Salute Honorable Leaderships