Metrorail resorts to diesel locomotives as vandals cripple service

Prasa, (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa), announced that it had successfully completed the first 10 days, since the resumption of limited services in July.

Spokesperson Makhosini Mgitywa said the agency had successfully operated morning and afternoon services, using diesel locomotives along the Pienaarspoort to Pretoria line.

Mgitywa said the use of diesel locomotives meant Metrorail, the urban trains operator, could not use the new trains to vandalism and theft of the overhead electrical lines.

Often trains on the Pienaarspoort to Pretoria line run late due to cable theft and hanging wires between Koedoespoort and Eersterust.

Acting provincial manager Jackie Moshe said the hanging wires posed a serious threat to the safety of the infrastructure, personnel, commuters and trains.

Moshe called on commuters to work with Metrorail and police to ensure perpetrators were reported to the authorities.

“We invite the public to play an important role in protecting and preserving public assets belonging to them. Let us stop these criminals who are stealing and vandalising key critical infrastructure that is required to run your trains safely,” she said.

“It cannot be that while the country is desperately trying to improve its public transport system, with government injecting billions to make this a reality, others are determined to undermine this at all cost and inconvenience innocent commuters.”

Railway transportation was halted for 13 weeks, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since early July, the Gauteng, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape services were the first to run a limited rail service focusing on the morning and afternoon peaks.

The Eastern Cape Metrorail region also operated two services for East London and Port Elizabeth lines which had not run on the first day due to “network challenges”.

The issues have since been addressed.

Acting Gauteng Metrorail spokesperson Tony Games said since service resumption, the agency had implemented strict Covid-19 protocols on all the services and ensured that all passengers wore face masks prior to travelling and the “no mask no ride” policy was strictly implemented.

“Passengers also had their hands sanitised before getting into the stations and were assisted to follow the various social distancing marking at the ticket offices and on-board the trains.

“All passengers observed the mandatory Covid-19 rules and were exemplary in ensuring compliance of social distancing and the overall new way of operations with no overcrowding on the trains,” said Games.

He said all trains were also continuously sanitised at the end of each journey, before embarking on the return leg to ensure that high-touch areas such as door handles were kept clean.

“Train stations and trains are then deep-cleaned overnight to be ready for the next day. Due to social distancing measures, no informal traders are allowed in stations and inside trains.”

The Metrorail service said no eating or drinking was allowed in the stations and in trains.

“Metrorail will continue to run a limited service nationally with limited passenger numbers as a result of the strict enforcement of social distancing inside the trains by the marshals.”

The Metrorail agency had to temporarily halt train services to the Scheiding and Wolmerton depots including the train control centre for decontamination after three employees tested positive for Covid-19.

“As a company, Metrorail has followed a pre-emptive preparatory approach to quickly, safely and responsibly respond to both suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 among employees. Unaffected employees will return to their workstations once all the buildings have been decontaminated, deep-cleaned and declared safe.”

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