Prasa relocates trains to safety after Johannesburg fire

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has successfully relocated several locomotives and coaches to safety after a fire on the M1 bridge above the Braamfontein yard where coaches and locomotives are staged.

The fire occurred early yesterday morning, prompting an immediate response from Prasa Protection Services.

“[The] City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services was dispatched to the scene, but despite their efforts, the fire persisted, necessitating swift action from Prasa Rail. Train crew members, [who were] at home, were promptly activated to move the locomotives and coaches to a safe location to prevent exposure to the fire.

“While the exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed, preliminary reports suggest it may have originated from an underground tunnel housing cables belonging to City Power. The City Emergency Management Services has confirmed that the fire is under control, with firefighting operations ongoing,” Prasa said in a statement.

No major damage was reported on the coaches and locomotives, except minimal damage to the paint of a few, due to heat exposure.

“We will continue assessing the entire fleet that was relocated.

“At Prasa Rail, we acknowledge the seriousness of this incident, and we are taking every possible measure to ensure the ongoing safety and protection of our personnel and assets.

“We will continue to collaborate closely with the City’s Emergency Management Service throughout this process. Our team is actively monitoring the situation, and we will provide further updates as necessary,” the agency said. – SAnews.gov.za