After years of service to the community, the Pollak Park Train Station now stands derelict and is falling apart.
“There are no commuter trains anymore.
“There were less and less as the years went by but now there are none,” explained Harold Nabal, chairperson of the Pollak Park CPF.
The station, on Springs West Road, has been at the heart of the town’s transport system for decades.
Nabal himself said he would commute from it daily to and from Johannesburg where he worked in the 1960s.
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“It is a real shame because using the train was a cheaper option for most people.
“That option is no longer viable,” he added.
The abandoned train station is not only an eyesore, but it has also become a hub for vandals.
The small building that used to be the ticket office has been stripped of all electrical wiring and plumbing.
The roof is slowly vanishing, with only the timber and steel frames remaining.
In addition, the grass in the vicinity is overgrown and pedestrians who need to access the bridge on either side of the station are forced to walk through the tall grass, which is a perfect hiding grounds for criminals.
There is also evidence that people may be squatting in the abandoned building.
“It is not safe for anyone to be here,” warned Nabal.
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According to the City of Ekurhuleni, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is the entity responsible for the maintenance of the grounds.
This, even though the area outside the station, which is municipal grounds, is also plagued with long grass.
A comment requested from Prasa will be published once it has been received.
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