Getting the right train to work is going to become harder in Cape Town as MetroRail has had to take five train sets out of service.
|||Cape Town - Getting the right train to work is going to become harder as MetroRail has had to take five train sets out of service for replacement, service and repair.
Regional manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz said that five train-sets have been removed from service until further notice to restore what he termed “a measure of predictability” to the region’s train service.
“We need 88 train sets to operate our 688 daily trains,” he said. “As a rule we have three to five spare sets to press into service to maintain our timetable and replace defective in-service sets.”
But now, without the required number of spare sets, Metrorail is forced to cancel trains in service once these break down or require routine maintenance that cannot be performed after hours.
“The loss of 10 carriages during the past year to fire impacts on our ability to service our timetable. These are yet to be returned as fully functional refurbished units.”
Railway line maintenance had been affected by water seepage in certain badly drained areas, while delays were being experienced in the Nyanga to Philippi sections where sewerage was being “dispensed” onto rail tracks by informal communities.
Other problems affecting the commuter rail service were power outages in the Lentegeur, Bonteheuwel and Langa, delays attributable to goods trains, trees blowing over or livestock being struck by goods trains have recently caused delays.
Customers can check daily changes at www.gometro.co.za
The following trains will not operate until further notice:
South
#0105 (5.42am CT – Fish Hoek)
#0117 (6.43am CT – Fish Hoek)
#0128 (6.55am Fish Hoek – CT)
#0140 (7.40am Fish Hoek – CT)
#0502 (5.52am Retreat – CT)
North
#2510 (6.20am Kraaifontein – CT)
#2503 (5.45am CT – Kraaifontein)
#2512 (6.20am Kraaifontein – CT)
Central
#9406 (6.10am Khayelitsha – CT)
#9308 (6.30am Khayelitsha – CT)
#9981 (7.38pm CT – Chris Hani)
Cape Argus