Latest news with #railproject
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Reopening of Central Line Will Ease Traffic Congestion on Cape Town Freeways
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, has noted with appreciation the successful reopening of the Central Line connecting Khayelitsha to the CBD. Mr Selamolela attended the function that was overseen by the Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, Deputy Minister Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, and the City of Cape Town Mayor, Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis. Mr Selamolela said: 'This is a significant infrastructural rail project that must benefit our people to and from work. We particularly appreciate the investment government has put into this project. We are changing the lives of people of Cape Town for the better.' The Central Line which used to commute 2 million passengers daily, had fallen victim to vandalism which saw the rail tracks being stolen and the stations being vandalised. This Mr Selamolela called on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) not to lose momentum and increase the volume of carriages on the rails while significantly improve signalling equipment as that will ease pressure on Cape Town freeways. 'The reopening must not end with the photo opportunity of officials, but a real change in people's lives through the provision of affordable, safe and reliable public transport. PRASA must act with speed and regain the trust people used to place on trains. We want them to be a transport mode of choice.' Mr Selamolela urged the community and community leaders to play a role in protecting and guarding the rolling stock and the network as the assets are theirs. 'The greatest security is in the hands of the people. They must safeguard the Central Line against cable theft and burning of trains.' 'Our country requires this service as of yesterday. So many of our people are unemployed and will benefit greatly from this PRASA initiative.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MN lawmakers pull funding from Northern Lights Express train to Duluth
The Brief Minnesota lawmakers voted to reallocate $77 million from the Northern Lights Express rail project to cover unemployment insurance for seasonal school workers. The shift leaves $108 million of the original $195 million in state funding, jeopardizing the proposed train line. Rep. Jon Koznick declared the project "effectively dead," criticizing it as wasteful amid declining rail ridership. DULUTH, Minn. (FOX 9) - A bill approved over the weekend by Minnesota lawmakers pulled funding for the Northern Lights Express train, a proposal that would create a passenger train line running from the Twin Cities to Duluth. What we know In a release on Sunday, House Republican Transportation Chair Rep. Jon Koznick (R–Lakeville) announced House File 1143 had been approved by the Senate. The bill sends $77 million from the rail project to cover unemployment insurance costs for seasonal school workers. The backstory In May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature approved $195 million to go towards the long-proposed Northern Lights Express. After this weekend's votes, roughly $108 million remains for the project. Under the initial proposal, the train would have been run by Amtrak, making four round trips each day on BNSF tracks. Tickets would cost between $30 and $35., with the train running from Target Field to the Union Depot in Duluth, with several stops along the way. However, the plan was contingent on federal funds, which would have covered 80 percent of the costs of the project, which haven't come through. What they're saying In a provided statement, Rep. Koznick said: "For years, Democrats have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on wasteful rail projects that Minnesotans barely use and can't afford. With the House and Senate voting to shift a significant amount of the state's share of the project's funding, the Northern Lights Express train is effectively dead, and taxpayers are better off because of it." Dig deeper Earlier this year, the Met Council announced plans to shift the Northstar train line, which runs from downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake, to a bus service. The decision comes as ridership has plummeted for the line following the pandemic – and as Rep. Koznick was pushing legislation to cut funding for the rail line, which the lawmaker said the line was costing taxpayers $11 million despite "near zero" ridership.
