By Nangamso Mabindla
19 February 2008

EASTERN Cape's public transport challenges will move a step closer to resolution when the Kei Rail passenger service between East London and Mthatha starts on Saturday, 1 March.

This was announced by the MEC for safety, liaison, roads and transport, Thobile Mhlahlo, last week.

Mhlahlo was speaking to the provincial legislature in King William's Town; he said that the Kei Rail Project was given the go ahead by the Rail Safety Regulator. "The department of roads [has] received an operating permit to run a rail passenger service between East London and Mthatha.

"This proves that the decision that we took as the provincial government to revitalise this line was correct. This project will provide a lasting solution to our public transport challenges."

It costs about R70 to take a taxi the 225 kilometres between East London and Mthatha and R110 for a luxury coach. However, once the Kei Rail project is up and running, people will pay R30 for a one-way trip between the two cities.

Mhlahlo said that his department was not alone in trying to revive the rail line. Sheltam Grindrod was supplying the locomotives for the service, Rail Focus was responsible for train traffic movements on Kei Rail, and Metrorail would operate the stations along the line.

Coaches would be leased from Shosholoza Meyl, a division of Transnet Freight Rail.

The department of roads and transport had paid R20-million for the refurbishment of 20 coaches by Transnet Rail Engineering. Mhlahlo said these coaches would be available in May.

"As we speak, officials from the Rail Safety Regulator are inspecting the line to check our state of readiness for the operations. Initially, there will be a weekend service, which will operate during the day, and our main intention is to re-introduce a cargo service this year, which will ease the pressure from our road network.

"We are busy discussing with various industries in order to get customers for that service. Our main targets include timber, cement, fuel and agricultural products."

Tickets for the Kei Rail line will be available at the East London, Amabele, Komga, Butterworth and Mthatha stations, before the train departs.