Watch: Cape Town trains gutted by fire, MetroRail suspends services

At least 18 MetroRail train carriages were gutted by fire in the early hours of Thursday morning, forcing a suspension of services in the region until further notice.

Flames and smoke were seen bellowing from Cape Town Central Station shortly before dawn, in what has been reported as yet another arson attack on the City’s already-beleaguered rail infrastructure. The latest blaze comes as a huge setback to the City of Cape Town’s railway safety initiative, which was instituted following the loss of at least 45 MetroRail carriages over the past two years.

Watch: MetroRail Cape Town train fires return

Cape Town – #MetroRail (Update): FIRE at Cape Town Station – regional train services are SUSPENDED via @ShaneJeremy1 pic.twitter.com/Q6gwiXwAMj

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) November 28, 2019

⚠ #NorthernLine (Kraaifontein-/Wellington / Muldersvlei / Strand) :
Fire incident at CTown Station (platforms 9/10/15 and 16) impacts morning peak train service. Train service is suspended until further notice. Commuters are advised to make use of own alternative transport.

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) November 28, 2019

Thursday’s blaze, which enveloped four platforms, has led to the suspension of regional services, leaving commuters stranded and causing severe congestion on the City’s roads as travellers search for alternative transportation. MetroRail issued a statement on the crisis, saying:

“Fire incident at CTown Station (platforms 9/10/15 and 16) impacts morning peak train service. Train service is suspended until further notice. Commuters are advised to make use of own alternative transport.”

MetroRail confirmed that recovery operations were underway to restore services as soon as possible. Shortly after 7:00 on Thursday morning, the City’s commuter train operator noted that limited services would return but that delays of up to two hours were to be expected.

The mass destruction of MetroRail’s fleet

Over the past three years, vandalism and arson have cut MetroRail’s Cape Town fleet in half, with 2018 being a particularly destructive period. Consecutive train fires severely embattled the City’s rail infrastructure, with calls from local government to have the situation declared as an emergency.

More worrying is the lack of prosecutions relating to the crimes, which have cost MetroRail in excess of R500 million and led to serious regional commuter concerns. The inability to service Cape Town’s commuter needs has left MetroRail, and the City itself, in a dire position.

As trains continue to burn, pressure mounts on the City’s road transport system, increasing traffic volumes and congestion in a metropolitan area which is already plagued by gridlock.

This is a developing story – check back for more updates.