A Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) train that derailed between Bellville and Tygerberg train stations has affected train movements between the two stops.

No deaths or injuries have yet been reported, and Metrorail states that service recovery is underway at Kraaifontein, Wellington, Strand, and Muldervlei stations. The public rail service initially announced that its commuters would experience delays of 120 minutes or more, but this waiting time has since been reduced to approximately 60 minutes.

The Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) has announced it will embark on the first step of its multi-billion rand modernisation plan this week. These signalling upgrades will affect thousands of Cape Town’s commuters in the upcoming days.

Speaking to EWN, Metrorail’s Regional Manager, Richard Walker, says that the new system will ensure greater ‘flexibility’ and reduce incidences of cable theft. “It means we will have a much more reliable system. We will be able to run our trains at different frequencies and the entire system also allows for improvement in speed, it replaces the entire modernisation which prepares us for rolling out new trains which we are expecting around the end of 2019/2020,” he says.

Riana Scott, Metrorail spokesperson, says commuters can expect new changes at Cape Town station this coming week. “Southern Line trains will use platforms one to five. Northern [Line] trains, including the businesses expresses, will utilise platform six to nine. The Cape Flats [line] trains will use platforms 10 and 11. Mitchells Plain [(the central line)] trains will use platform 12,” she says.

Picture: Twitter

 

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