UPDATE: North Coast train stoppage drags on

As the suspension of rail services to the North Coast lurches into its third week, thousands of daily commuters are growing desperate over rising costs.

There has been no indication of when the Passengers Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will resume services.

PRASA previously said trains had been suspended due to infrastructure upgrades and the Metrorail offices in Durban stonewalled queries by only saying that “there will be no trains until further notice”.

Also read: Costs rocket as trains on the North Coast halted

This has hit commuters hard as they are forced to take taxis, which are more than double the cost of rail fares.

In response to worries that the fuel price increase will affect taxi fares, South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) regional chairperson Bongani Mkhwanazi said people should calm down, there will be no taxi fare increase until next year.

“With the trains suspended, taxi associations on the North Coast are trying their best to ensure that there are no delays.

“There was a meeting on Monday with PRASA to discuss a way forward,” said Mkhwanazi.

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