Costs rocket as trains on the North Coast halted
The situation is even more stressful and costly for North Coast residents who work in Durban and are now forced to use taxis.
The railways have stopped trains on the North Coast line for the past two weeks – a move that has ploughed deep into thousands of commuters’ pockets.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) suspended services after angry commuters burnt down a ticket office, trains and workers’ vehicles in Umlazi, because trains were running late.
Prasa Metrorail KZN spokesperson Zama Nomnganga could not say when normal service would resume.
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A meeting with the department of transport was held on Tuesday to discuss a way forward.
Nomnganaga said the service would be off-line until work on the railway could be completed. He could not confirm when this would be.
One of the residents who had been deeply affected was Rita Msani who is a vendor at Umhlali station. She bought a R142 monthly ticket from Stanger to Umhlali in September, but only got two weeks use from it.
“Since there had not been any trains, I have spent more than R300 on transport, yet I have a monthly train ticket.
“My business is also struggling, I usually make about 100 vetkoeks a day and I am now making 40 or less because there is no one to support my business.
“I am spending more yet I am making less,” said Msani.
The situation is even more stressful and costly for North Coast residents who work in Durban and are now forced to use taxis.
A return train ticket to Durban costs R23 while a single taxi trip costs R45 and two ways, R90. So in two weeks, commuters have spent about R900 compared with their normal outlay of R230.
Another affected resident is Abraham Gwala who works in Ballito and takes a train from Groutville to Compensation daily. He had already bought a monthly ticket for R142, but over the past ten days he had spent about R240 on taxis.
“I also attend classes on Saturday and it cost me R22 a day, but if I take a taxi, I pay R100 a day. This issue is really affecting us because we have to find money for transport, while we have already bought our monthly tickets,” said Gwala.
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