Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has been granted a three-year safety permit by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), marking its progression from the temporary permitting arrangement in place since its establishment.
The permit follows a regulatory assessment of its safety management systems, governance arrangements, risk management processes and controls for managing safety across the rail infrastructure under its responsibility, according to a statement issued by TRIM on October 5.
A temporary permit had provided the necessary regulatory authorisation while the organisation established and strengthened its safety systems and institutional arrangements, TRIM said. It had therefore operated within the required safety permitting framework from inception.
The three-year permit provided further regulatory confidence in those systems and processes and strengthened the safety foundation supporting South Africa’s rail reform programme, the infrastructure manager said.
The development comes as the freight rail sector moves towards a more open network used by multiple train operators. Fair and non-discriminatory access needed to be supported by measures to maintain the integrity, reliability and safety of the infrastructure, TRIM said.
The management of safety interfaces between the infrastructure manager and train operating companies was becoming increasingly important as new operators gained access to the network, TRIM said. Increased participation required appropriate governance, risk management and operational controls.
“Opening the rail network to greater participation brings significant opportunities for South Africa’s freight logistics system, but these opportunities must be enabled through a railway environment that is managed safely and responsibly,” said TRIM general manager for safety Andiswa Dlanga.
“The granting of a safety permit by the RSR provides confidence in the systems TRIM has established as the infrastructure manager and highlights that safety remains central to how we enable rail reform.”
The permit strengthened TRIM’s institutional foundation as it continued to facilitate third-party access and create an environment in which multiple operators could safely use the network, the statement said.
Railway safety nevertheless required continuous improvement, TRIM added. Further work would include strengthening safety management systems, managing operational and infrastructure risks, monitoring safety performance and working closely with the RSR and railway operators.
