Flooded subway putting commuters at risk

SINCE the middle of last month, commuters crossing from one side of Wetton train station to the other have placed their lives at risk.

They claim they’ve been forced to cross the train tracks or jump from one slippery stepping stone to the other to enter the station – as a result of a persistently flooded subway.

Commuter Alfonso Medina said the main subway at Wetton station had been flooded since the middle of last month, and Metrorail had done nothing to repair the structure to prevent flooding.

“Because of this we all have to cross the railway, either walking towards the ends of the platforms or just crossing anywhere. It is risky to cross over the tracks because the train comes around the bend from Lansdowne station, just about 200m from where people cross the railway.

“People rushing to catch the train or to buy a ticket and who don’t see the train coming, (and) anything can happen. The train would not be able to stop. It is disgraceful and dan- gerous,” said Medina.

Michael Thornton, who has worked at the industrial park overlooking the subway for 21 years, said the subway flooded every winter and continued to stay that way until Metrorail employees pumped out the water.

“The people coming from Cape Town are safe when they get off but the people who come in from Retreat have to get off the platform and cross the line to get to this side. And the same happens for people going to Cape Town from this side of the line,” said Thornton.

He added that it was safer to cross the line during the day, but the early morning hours made the trek increasingly dangerous as a result of the darkness.

Another commuter, Amanda Matemba, on her way to Retreat said she never crossed the lines but jumped on the stepping stones, while her friend Busie Siqusu added she always crossed over the lines.

Medina said the guards tried to stop people from crossing the rail by urging commuters to brave the stepping stones across the flooded water.

The second subway station could not be used as it was completely flooded and did not have any stepping stones for people to balance.

Yesterday morning, Metrorail workers arrived to pump the water out of the main subway. Numerous attempts by Weekend Argus to contact Metrorail management, went unanswered.

PICTURES: AYANDA NDAMANE Wetton train station subway is flooded and people are putting their lives at risk by crossing railway lines illegally to avoid walking through the water.