Metrorail trains have been delayed and cancelled since last week because of infrastructural problems at the Cape Town station. Photo by Neo Sithole.
20 March 2014
Since last week, Metrorail trains on the Khayelitsha line have been repeatedly delayed and even cancelled due to an “infrastructure problem” in Cape Town. Commuters want to know when it will end.
Metrorail service issued a statement on Tuesday (18 March) saying Cape Town Station platforms would be temporarily closed because of infrastructural problems over the past weekend that led to the closure of platforms 11 to 18 and damaged equipment forced Metrorail to close off platform 10 as well.
“Platforms 11 – 12 are normally reserved for northern trains, platforms 13 – 15 are used by Cape Flats trains, platforms 16 – 17 are used by Kapteinsklip trains and platform 18 for Chris Hani trains. Due to the closure of these platforms, trains from the areas listed are being slotted in between the southern trains, leading to delays,” read the statement.
Regional Manager for Metrorail Western Cape, Mthuthuzeli Swartz said infrastructure problems meant damage of the rail, signalling equipment, track balance or overhead wires.
“Because of the infrastructural problems this gives trains speed restrictions which causes delays and cancellations of trains. This is not only happening at Cape Town station; it is spread across 37km of rail which would mean from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. We have to understand that trains get damaged as well, they become defective, and with railways we always have to note the combination of their quality and well-being,” said Swartz.
Train user Nomthandazo Mbizela from Khayelitsha takes the train daily to work. “I take the train from Kuyasa Station to Cape Town, and I start work at 9am. But I have been getting to work at 10am because of train delays. My train is at 7.40am, but these days it arrives at 7.55am. But the problem is not with the time it gets to my station, it is what happens along the way. I take the route which goes via Mutual and Ysterplaat and this is where the delays come into effect. The train stops for no apparent reason for 30 minutes to an hour. I end up getting to Cape Town at 9.45am,” said Mbizela.
Mbizela says she didn’t know what was causing the delays until she overheard two Metrorail workers who were talking to each other say that over the weekend a train derailed and there was an accident at the station which caused problems for some of the lines.
Mbizela has been using the trains since 2007. She uses first class and pays R174 for her monthly train ticket, which went up last year from R99. “It is difficult using a train because it is unpredictable, you might arrive at the station early only to be late at work. The only reason I use a train is because it is affordable compared to a taxi or bus,” she said.
Swartz said there was a minor derailment of a goods train this past weekend as well as an accident where contractors broke the signal equipment which left the traffic lights not working. Certain platforms had to be closed. But he said these were being fixed and a majority of the platforms were reinstated and working as normal. He also said that all affected platforms were expected to be fully functional within 14 days from 15 March.
“We have to understand that even before Saturday (15 March) there have been cancellations and delays because of infrastructure, but we are fixing the problems and a number of platforms have been re-opened. Full functionality can happen within 14 days, 11 days or eight days, there is no way of telling exactly. There will still be delays, but they will be about 10 to 15 minutes,” said Swartz.
Some people took to social network Twitter about the Metrorail service.
Andre tweeted: “Due to the problems at Cape Town, trains are now packed. People can’t get in, hanging on to the outside of the train at Mutual stat #MetroRail”
Slamsmallick wrote: “1st time for everything. Today I jumped out of a train. #metrorail provides kak service”
Jaimee wrote: “This is the worse time to be taking train. #metrorail #Metrofail #exams and I can’t afford to drive to damn bellville everyday! Argh”