Port Elizabeth – The South African Police Service (SAPS) is to set up Rail Contact Points at train stations in the Eastern Cape to help reduce criminal activity around these areas.

These satellite police stations, which have already been constructed in other provinces, will be set up at commuter train stations only.

Departmental spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca said the new units would provide security services to the commuters who use the trains. This will ultimately restore public confidence in rail passenger service.

This will encourage people to go back to using trains and ease the traffic congestion that is currently being experienced on our roads network.

The Eastern Cape is the last province to establish a Railway Police Unit.

Commuter train stations set to receive contact points include Mount Ruth in Mdantsane, East London and Swartkops in Port Elizabeth, and they will be controlled by 145 members.

He said there are approximately 215 student Constables, who are currently at the police training college in Bhisho. They will be deployed by December 2008.

“There are plans to deploy 130 members for the East London to King Williams Town railway route and another 130 members for the East London to Mthatha (Kei Rail) route,” Mr Kumbaca said.

He said rail passenger services are expected to commence on these routes before the end of March 2008.

The unit aims to have 1000 members deployed by 2010, to ensure that commuters who will be coming to the Eastern Cape to watch matches during the FIFA World Cup are safe.

The new launch of the units form part of the province’s Safety and Security Month.

The Safety and Liaison Department in partnership with the police and Metrorail will launch the Eastern Cape Railway Police Programme on Monday.

The MEC for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Thobile Mhlahlo, the police management, Metrorail management and Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality councillors are to attend the event.

The MEC will also interact with commuters at the Port Elizabeth station at 6am.

After that, there will be a formal programme at the Port Elizabeth station, where the MEC will address the police members responsible for rail safety and relevant stakeholders.

On Monday, the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) announced a R18 billion investment towards passenger rail over a period of three years.

The money will be used to accelerate a rolling stock programme, the rollout of the national Rail Safety Ambassador programme with a special focus on train surfing, staff-ridding and developing a safety management system.

This will include increasing the safety of commuters and employees and improve availability of trains. - BuaNews