ISSN 2039-2117 (online) ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 8 No 2 March 2017 47 Research Article © 2017 Chimusoro et.al. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). The Impact of Supply Chain Management in the Operations of a Passenger Rail Transport System: A Case Analysis of Passenger Rail Transport from 2009 to 2015 Oliver Chimusoro PhD Student, Pr. Eng., PRASA Engineering Research Chair, University of Stellenbosch, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch, South Africa Professor Cornelius J. Fourie Senior Lecturer, Pr. Eng., Chair-holder, PRASA Engineering Research Chair, University of Stellenbosch, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch, South Africa Itai Chimusoro 45 Glen Avenue, Highway Gardens, Edenvale Mandla Twala PhD., Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, 18 Rissik Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Tshabalala, N.G.* Department of Sociology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, 3886. South Africa *Corresponding Author Doi:10.5901/mjss.2017.v8n2p47 Abstract The article looks into the influence that supply chain management has in the operations of a passenger rail company in South Africa. The case analysis was based on desktop research on PRASA annual reports from 2009 to 2015 including the two Corporate Plans from 2015 to 2019. Successes and challenges encountered in the organisation will be analysed. Areas to be analysed include enhancement of technical skills, the refurbishment programme, patronage growth, customer satisfaction and passenger safety among others. The article covers the impact of supply chain management (SCM) on the general corporate performance; analyses the risks and disruptions derived from the various supply chain sources undermining supply chain performance; identified, shared and promoted the uptake of best practice in supply chain management. Keywords: SCM, Passenger Rail Transport, methodology, case analysis, integrated logistics, mean time between failures Background 1. The commuters have experienced and still are experiencing general disruptions to the flow of the commuter rail transport system in South Africa. These disruptions have been linked to maintenance, accidents, derailments, budget adequacy & availability and supply chain management discourses. The effect of this has been felt by the commuters (which include school children, working class and the general public). This has been mentioned on a daily basis in the local media for example The Citizen, Thursday 7 April 2011:6; The Citizen, Wednesday 13 April 2011:4, 18; The Sowetan, Monday 11