Cape Town - The Passenger Railway Agency of SA (Prasa) recently rolled out a new train for Metrorail in Cape Town.
Referred to as the “People’s Train”, its new carriages have been operating on the Cape Flats line since last week.
Metrorail spokesperson Nana Zenani said the trains would be operating on the Cape Flats line while other lines were repaired. The train contains six continuous cars with no breaks in-between carriages.
Zenani added that features of the train include air-conditioning, on-board announcements, CCTV cameras and round-the-clock cleaning staff.
The train is operating in off-peak hours in the morning and afternoon.
Satawu national co-ordinator Tinzi Lubabalo said: “We are very worried about the developments that are taking place with Prasa in relation to those Cape Town central lines. There is misalignment of planning and co-ordination which results in the disaster that we are seeing now.”
The central line has been inoperable since 2019 due to vandalism, cable theft and land invasion. The central line in Cape Town runs through places such as Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha, Philippi, Nyanga and Bonteheuwel.
“For as long as Prasa is not in a position to give account and take responsibility for some of the decisions that they are taking with regards to the Cape Town central line, we are going to continue seeing the fiasco that we are witnessing and commuters will be the biggest victims,” said Lubabalo.
Sonja Carstens from the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Untu) expressed her gratitude that the People’s Train was finally operating in Cape Town, acknowledging that the central line was vital to the economy of the city.
“On the central line, there is lots of work still to be done. We know there is still a problem with squatters and we need to prioritise the central line,” she said.
Joao Jardim, spokesperson for the United Commuters Voice, has said this is a slap in the face to commuters. “What’s the use of having new trains, who are they going to service?” he asked
“What Prasa, Metrorail and the government are doing is unbelievable – you cannot believe this is happening, where the poorest of the poor are being ridiculed even further,” he said.
rafieka.williams@inl.co.za