Metrorail lodges complaint after stoning
METRORAIL is taking a firmer approach to even the pettiest of crimes against its infrastructure.
This comes after the railway operator opened a case of malicious damage to property after a group of youths stoned its new train.
Acting spokesperson Nana Zenani said the incident took place on Tuesday and the complaint was lodged with the police on the same day.
The train was stoned at Steenberg Station while en route to Fish Hoek Station.
“The stone caused damage to the side window of the driver’s cabin which will now have to be replaced. More damage could have been caused and a commuter hurt. Fortunately this was not the case,” Zenani said. The cost of the damage is R20 000. “The assets were bought and are being maintained using taxpayers’ money. Metrorail will therefore relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of such vandalism.”
Zenani said Metrorail was reinstating services across all its lines. She said extensive repairs had been done to various Metrorail assets due to vandalism.
“The stoning of trains adds another layer of difficulty in delivering services and is therefore intolerable to Metrorail. Metrorail is maintaining a hawkish stance against such acts of senseless behaviour towards government assets managed by Metrorail.”
The incident happened on the same day Metrorail announced the resumption of the Southern line between Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town stations which came into effect yesterday.
On Tuesday, Metrorail said all stations from Retreat Station to Simon’s Town were now fully operational.
Metrorail said it would be operating the yellow and grey trains at peak and the new trains during off-peak service as per the Rail Safety Regulator.
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the incident occurred at about 3.45pm and was under investigation by the Kirstenhof Police.
“According to reports the train stopped at the railway station when unknown youths threw stones at the carriages, causing considerable damage to the windows. The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” he said.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stop anonymously on 0860 010111 or Metrorail on +27 80 021 0081.