Head of Engineering Services Ingwa Sichula has been in the rail transport industry since 1981. He says the role of Engineering Services at Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) is to develop a cohesive capital investment programme and drive new investment projects to transform the body into an effective and sustainable integrated public transport provider.
"Inherent in this strategy is the implementation of Life Cycle Asset Management Systems from the acquisition of new assets, maintenance of the assets, overhauls and upgrades and asset write-off at the end of the economic life cycle," he says.
Sichula says the business must overcome a history of inadequate capital investment and the deferred maintenance of primary core infrastructure. To do this, Prasa is effecting the accelerated rolling stock refurbishment programme, has commenced with the removal of infrastructure operational bottlenecks, and is upgrading the commuter rail signalling system, among other projects.
"It is evident, however, that the present systems of transport capacity do not meet demand. From an engineering perspective, it is clear that while the upgrade of the signalling system will expand the network capacity, there is a need for acquisition of new rolling stock to satisfy the growth in commuter volumes," he says. "Prasa has made representations in respect of this and is in active engagement with the shareholders."
