Metrorail central line to be reopened

TRANSPORT Minister Joe Maswanganyi is today expected to visit the notorious central line as part of the inspection of the route as it opens.

The visit comes after service on the Cape’s busiest line ground to a halt last month when the United National Transport Union refused to let their members work after a security guard was shot dead and vandalism crippled the route, leaving thousands of commuters frustrated as they had to use alternative transport for five weeks.

Meanwhile, acting Prasa CEO Cromet Molepo said although more securities have been deployed they are still in partnership with the police and have pledged to protect its staff, especially train drivers and technicians who find themselves at the receiving end of criminal attacks.

“In the Western Cape 88 additional armed security guards and two armoured vehicles have been deployed to patrol day and night to enable technical teams to repair vital equipment and prevent further attacks on rail infrastructure. Asset protection and target-hardening measures continue to ensure that vital infrastructure such as point machines, apparatus cases and track boxes are secured,” Molepo said.

He said these measures have been brought about by the delays in opening the vital central line for operations as criminals continue to strip and vandalise the line at an unprecedented rate causing delays and derailments as a result of stolen rail tracks.

Molepo said money that could be used towards servicing passengers will now be deviated to hire more security personnel.

“Prasa is under siege and yet we service a high number of passengers who rely solely on our services. Prasa is the only public transport service that is currently under such tremendous pressure to deliver services using old and obsolete technology at a low cost to customers, but one that is the least respected as evidenced by the relentless onslaught of vandalism and criminal attacks,” he added.