Another train up in flames.
ANOTHER train went up in flames yesterday – this time at Retreat station.
Three train carriages were set alight and resulted in interrupted services between Cape Town and Simon’s Town.
Commuters were advised to make use of alternative transport between Steurhof and Steenberg
“No injuries were reported. Metrorail employees separated the burning carriages from the rest of the train, preventing further damage,” Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said.
She said the cause of the fire and the cost of the damage was yet to be determined. “SAPS, Metrorail Protection Services, a forensic team and Train Operations crews remain on-site for the requisite investigations,” Scott said.
Yesterday’s incident follows one that occurred at Cape Town railway station on Saturday, when two coaches were burnt, and the platforms’ cabling was damaged, amounting to a loss of at least R30m. Nobody was injured and the cause is still being established.
The City of Cape Town’s fire services’ spokesperson Theo Layne said: “The city’s fire and rescue services responded to a fire at Retreat railway station just after 10.30am. Two fire engines, a water tanker and rescue vehicles responded along with 14 firefighters.”
Meanwhile, the DA in the Western Cape is calling on the minister of police, Bheki Cele, to immediately assemble a task team to investigate the train fires. –