Protest disrupts Metrorail train services in Pretoria

Metrorail has said that its train services operating between Pienaarspoort and Pretoria were disrupted on Monday morning due to service delivery protests as community members burned tyres on the railway tracks and damaged infrastructure.

It was not immediately clear what the protest was in relation with, but Metrorail spokesperson, Lillian Mofokeng said in that they suspected it was related to municipal services.

“All trains running on this corridor transporting thousands of commuters are turning around at Eerste Fabrieke for safety reasons,” Mofokeng said in a statement.

“Metrorail management strongly condemns the tendency of communities it serves taking any protests including municipal service delivery related frustrations to the railway as it negatively impacts on hundreds of commuters dependent on trains to get to their destination and economic activities.”

Mofokeng said each train commutes about 1,800 people and for Metrorail to provide alternative transport it would need at least 22 busses, which it did not have immediately.

Mofokeng said the challenge of disrupting train services could only be won when commuters and communities partner with Metrorail and report all incidents to their nearest police stations or can also contact Metrorail’s Security and Protection Services.

Metrorail apologised for “any inconvenience” this might cause as no alternative transport could be arranged for commuters at affected train stations.

The Pretoria East Rekord reported this video of the protest action: