Photo: Metrorail GP / Twitter
Metrorail halts service in Pretoria due to cable theft
Train commuters around Gauteng were forced to take alternative means of transport on Friday morning.
Photo: Metrorail GP / Twitter
Gauteng Metrorail confirmed the suspension of services on Friday due to cable theft.
Commuters using the line between Pretoria and Pienaarspoort were urged to seek alternative means of transport with vandals forcing operations to a halt.
Trains halted after vandals strike
Metrorail says the first train from Pretoria could not complete its journey to Pienaarspoort.
“The first empty train that departed Pretoria Station towards Pienaarspoort had to turn back due to hanging wires which made it impossible for the diesel locomotive to pass,” the company said in a statement.
“Metrorail technical teams are hard at work assessing the damage with a view to repair in time for the afternoon peak service.”
Metrorail
Metrorail acting provincial manager Jackie Moshe added;
“We are deeply saddened by the malicious damage to the infrastructure and call upon the public to unite against this attack.”
Jackie Moshe, Metrorail
⚠️ PIENAARSPOORT CORRIDOR
— metrorailGauteng (@metrorailgp) July 3, 2020
Metrorail Trains Service cancelled due to cable THEFT
Technical Teams on the ground assessing the extend of the damage
▪Train 9801 will return back to Pretoria Station pic.twitter.com/3krGbKG1cF
Trains cannot pass Loftus
— metrorailGauteng (@metrorailgp) July 3, 2020
Unfortunately we had to cancel the service pic.twitter.com/wDx1owAgfk
Reminder
— metrorailGauteng (@metrorailgp) July 3, 2020
?Pienaarsport Trains Services Cancelled due to Cable THEFT
No Train Service btwn Pretoria-Pienaarspoort this morning
Commuters advised to make alternative transport arrangements pic.twitter.com/fGsMQfOwjf
Gauteng hit by wave of vandalism
Elsewhere, the train station in Jeppestown also fell victim to vandalism, with electric cables and other infrastructure damaged.
Jeppestown Station JHB- Criminals have damaged infrastructure. @MbalulaFikile @Dotransport pic.twitter.com/MjWFRqIqlk
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 3, 2020
This comes just weeks after train services were permitted to operate under Level 3 lockdown.
Under the new regulations, each train can only carry up to 486 passengers and is disinfected overnight with only a select few stations operational, as Metrorail gradually phases in its services.
