Commuters on the northern train lines had to endure massive delays
following the derailment of a train carriage early this (Friday) morning.
following the derailment of a train carriage early this (Friday) morning.
News of the delays were posted on several social media sites
including Facebook. Photos of train platforms packed with commuters, stationary
trains and long queues of people waiting to make use of public transport were also shared on several pages.
Several complaints about the delays were also posted; some people
claiming that they had to wait hours before being able to travel, others about having to
use trains re-routed via other stations. Some travellers also made mention of
the even worse congested roads as a result of the delay.
claiming that they had to wait hours before being able to travel, others about having to
use trains re-routed via other stations. Some travellers also made mention of
the even worse congested roads as a result of the delay.
Delays of about an hour was expected on Friday.
Riana Scott, spokesperson for the rail giant Metrorail, told TygerBurger today that the massive
delay was as a result of a derailed train carriage near the Bellville train
station. The train in question was empty at the time of the incident.
delay was as a result of a derailed train carriage near the Bellville train
station. The train in question was empty at the time of the incident.
“The train was en route to Huguenot at 05:42 this morning (Friday) when the wheels of the last carriage slipped off the track between the
Bellville and Stikland stations,” Scott says. No injuries were reported.
Metrorail’s technical crew were on-site to re-rail the carriage
soon after the incident occurred.
soon after the incident occurred.
The incident affected northern train traffic mostly, the Metrorail said. This included trains operating between Kuils River and Strand as well as
Kuils River and Muldersvlei.
Kuils River and Muldersvlei.
The train line was cleared and re-opened for normal operations by
09:10.
09:10.
