Railway Safety Regulator report reveals alarming stats

THE Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) unveiled its Annual State of Safety Report (ASoSR) for the 2024/25 reporting period showing that 81 people died and 336 injured in rail related incidents.

- WEEKEND ARGUS REPORTER

RSR CEO Brian Monakali led a panel discussion featuring industry leaders, including the CEOs of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), and the Group CEO of PRASA, reflecting on the annual safety achievements and the obstacles still ahead.

The ASOSR is not merely a regulatory formality but a comprehensive, data-driven examination mandated under the National Railway Safety Regulator Act No.30 of 2024. This year's report indicates that the sector recorded 9,200 safety-related occurrences, representing a commendable 7.2% decrease from the previous year.

Yet, this positive figure is clouded by a significant 10.9% increase in operational safety incidents, now standing at 10.1% above the five-year average. These incidents are largely attributed to deteriorating infrastructure and signalling failures.