Another MetroRail train engulfed by flames in Cape Town

It’s a disturbing site which is becoming more common on the railways of Cape Town. Two more MetroRail train carriages have been gutted by fire near Koeberg station in Maitland

It’s been alleged that Cape Town’s train and rail infrastructure is currently under attack by well-organised forces that stand in line to profit from the absolute destruction of MetroRail.

MetroRail loses 152 train carriages to arson and vandalism

It’s hard to deny that something, or someone, is hell-bent on seeing MetroRail reduced to ashes. In the last three years, MetroRail has lost over 150 carriages to arson and vandalism, with damages caused by the most recent two attacks in July exceeding R50 million.

But despite an R100 000 reward being offered by the Western Cape Government, for any information relating to the train attacks, and the security improvements implemented by Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Department – the arson attacks on trains continue.

The latest train fire was reported on by Times Live, who confirmed that fire-fighters were battling an intense blaze near Koeberg station.

According to Theo Layne, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the cause of the fire is still to be determined. Layne confirmed that his department was actively attending to the blaze, saying:

“We are currently dealing with two railway carriages that are alight. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.”

Last month, Blade Nzimande, the South African minister of transport, spoke to the media about the seriousness of train attacks, while mulling over plausible reasons for the mayhem.

Minister if Transport points to organised crime

Nzimande was the first government official to point out elements of organised crime as perpetrators of the attacks, saying:

“There are ordinary criminals who are actually vandalising trains‚ there’s copper theft and all that‚ but also at the same time there are elements of serious organised crime. We are talking to the police now to establish whether there are any commercial benefits to the people who burn trains.”

According to Times Live, MetroRail’s Cape Town service has been crippled by attacks. The railway operator has been left with only 50 functioning trains – it says it needs 33 more to run an efficient service.