Chamber frustrated over train vandalism

THE CAPE Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the city council to prioritise ending the vandalism on trains and copper theft when it takes over the commuter rail service.

This comes after the council gave mayor Patricia de Lille the go-ahead to proceed with its plans to take over management of the passenger rail service in the city.

The council will now submit a business plan to the Department of Transport which has proposed that the takeover takes place in a structured and incremental manner.

Chamber president Janine Myburgh said the council was well equipped to stop vandalism and cable theft on the trains.

“The city council’s copperheads anti-metal theft unit has performed well and has a good understanding of the problem. I see no reason why the metro police, working with the copperheads, cannot arrest the ongoing destruction of train sets, the signals system and other infrastructure,” she said.

Myburgh said the trains were not well looked after or properly guarded at night or during weekends.

“The proof is in the ugly graffiti that defaces the coaches. This vandalism can only be done in daylight or under lights so it should be easy to spot the culprits.

“The graffiti advertises to the copper thieves that the train sets are easy targets,” she said.

Mayoral committee member for transport and urban development councillor Brett Herron said the council would approach national government to seek approval and funding for their plans.

Meanwhile, United National Transport Union (Untu), a union representing train drivers, plans to frustrate the council’s plans to take over Metrorail.

The union claimed the council’s move was misleading.

However, De Lille said the takeover was necessary as the council could not survive without a fully functional, effective and world-class passenger rail service.