Metrorail adds two additional stations to southern line operations

Metrorail announced that from Wednesday 16 September 2020 the weekday train service between Cape Town and Retreat Stations will be extended by a further two stations; namely Muizenberg and Fish Hoek.

Metrorail further added that no weekend services will be offered until the demand warrants it. The Cape Flats train line reopened on Monday 24 August.

“We were listening to a lot of social media requests from the community of the Western Cape, they sincerely requested this line and we are introducing it today, and we are hopeful that in the next two weeks we will introduce the Cape Town to Kraaifontein line,” Acting regional manager Raymond Maseko said at the time.   

TURNAROUND TIMES EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE SANITISATION -METRORAIL

In line with level 2 regulations train capacity has been increased to 70% and the number of single and return tickets available for sale has been adjusted accordingly.

Turnaround times at Cape Town and Fish Hoek stations are extended to accommodate sanitising of trains. Trains are also cleaned and disinfected overnight. Commuters are advised to:

• Arrive masked (strict policy of no mask, no travel will be enforced);
• Use designated exits and entries where indicated at stations and in train carriages;
• Arrive at least 20 minutes earlier to allow for sanitising before buying a ticket; and
• Offer the correct fare amount to minimise handling of cash.

According to Metrorail, there have been no COVID-19 cases on trains or stations to date. 

Maseko says PRASA’s mitigation measures have been effective up to now. “We urge commuters to help us maintain the status quo as regulations are relaxed and to continue taking personal responsibility to prevent transmission of the virus,” said Maeko. 

To ensure compliance, access to stations and platforms will be monitored by Customer Services staff and security personnel. Minor adjustments may be made to timetables in line with prevailing operating conditions and to increase predictability. 

Metrorail said commuters will be informed should amendments be necessary.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING COPPER CABLES 

A multidisciplinary team of both Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) members pounced on a 48-year-old suspect and found him with feeder cables worth a market value of R380 000 as well as copper cables worth a market value of R150 000.

“A bakkie and tools that were were allegedly used in the commission of the crime were also seized,” said SAPS spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe.

Mathe said the man has been detained at the Hercules police station in Pretoria and will appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on a date that is yet to be confirmed.