Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Winter crime worries for Metrorail commuters
AS THE cold season makes landfall, Metrorail commuters grow more concerned about their safety and the cost of alternative modes of transportation.
Prasa continues to have no update on the set date for the long-awaited operation of the Blue Train or updates on the timetable for trains on some of their busiest routes.
Mitchells Plain commuter Charlene Williams sais the cost of alternative transportation had wreaked havoc with her budget. “I’ve been taking the train to town my entire life, since high school, because there is no other way I can get to town from my area. It frustrates me that they don’t take such scenarios into consideration now that they’ve taken trains off our route.
“I am extremely frustrated because I spent more money on taxis and buses than I would have spent on the train. Financially, I’m struggling to make ends meet and having to pay extra travelling costs is totally not part of my budget,” said Williams.
Khayelitsha commuter Liyanda Bhengu said her biggest concern was crime on the trains. “Now that winter is coming back and the trains have not returned to full service, I have a feeling that by the time the train comes, it will be so unsafe to use because winter time is when crimes on the trains become common, especially on the Khayelitsha route for those who finish work late, and the train is the only mode of transport.’’
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said the sustained impact of Covid-19 on business provided context to the current level of operations Prasa was able to offer. “During level 5, all Prasa employees were subjected to hard lockdown with the rest of the country. Covid-19 compliant Protection Services officials were permitted to protect the rail system. This was the first time in recent history where a rail system was required to shut down completely,” said Scott.
“Massive vandalism all but brought the system to its knees leaving an incredible burden of repairs and reinstatement of assets and infrastructure. Vagrancy and illegal settlements increased at an unprecedented rate as the economy continued to worsen and unemployment rose, adding a huge burden of vegetation and waste removal.
“Each subsequent lockdown level was accompanied by public transport regulations to comply with, resulting in limited services being able to resume. All existing Prasa service providers and contractors were, and continue to be, subjected to the same restrictions of employees and production rates impacting on supplies to restore services. All public transport modes report drastically lower patronage levels – trains are not exempted. Reduced revenue equals reduced funds to operate trains and perform maintenance and meeting other commitments,” added Scott.
She said that Prasa’s focus was to restore as many services as could safely be introduced – to date limited train services operate from Cape Town to Retreat via Heathfield (Cape Flats), Retreat – Simon’s Town (South), Malmesbury (North); Kraaifontein (North); Wellington/Worcester; and Langa (Central).
“We ask that stakeholders and customers bear with us as we work towards restoring normality to rail operations under difficult circumstances,” said Scott.
Regarding the operation of the Blue Train, she said submissions had been made to the Rail Safety Regulator to start operating passenger trains. “Until an operating permit is issued, Prasa is working to ensure that all service elements, such as vandalised stations, are repaired. At this stage there is no fixed date,” Scott said.