Pretoria train service returns after electrification repairs

The Gauteng Metrorail has resumed its weekday train service between Pretoria and Saulsville after the rail corridor faced electrification repairs two weeks ago.

The rail services returned on Tuesday to service the areas of Saulsville, Atteridgeville, Kalafong, Cor Delfos and Pretoria stations.

Acting Metrorail Gauteng province spokesperson Tony Games said the train service would, however, not run on weekends.

Commuters were reminded that only single and return tickets would be sold at the stations.

“They are advised to arrive early to purchase their valid tickets before boarding.

“In line with Covid-19 health regulations, no commuter will be allowed to enter a station or board the train without a mask covering both their nose and mouth.”

The reopening of the Saulsville line was suspended on October 15, 2021, to allow for electrification repairs to be undertaken at the Pretoria station complex as part of the Mabopane Service Recovery programme.

Prasa said that the “Mabopane line is virtually ready to reopen despite some challenges”.

This comes after the Mabopane rail corridor, still facing construction that is set to bring “world-class rail facilities” with “improved travelling times”.

The programme was implemented because the entire railway infrastructure network suffered “complete” vandalism and theft, which forced Metrorail to switch the trains to diesel.

In Gauteng, services were suspended between De Wildt and Pretoria, Mabopane and Belle Ombre, and De Wildt and Belle Ombre because of extensive theft and vandalism of railway infrastructure.

Metrorail said the exact date on which the train service would resume will be announced in due course, but that the Mabopane to Pretoria rail corridor was set to reopen in November.

The train service on the Mabopane to Pretoria corridor has not been operational since August.

“A completely new infrastructure and facilities will come with the programme,” said Games.

Games said there won’t be any trains as the entire line will be a construction site to meet the set deadline.

“Commuters have been informed of the line closure.”

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The programme was estimated at R1,2-billion; however, “the figure might change”.

Games said construction work was also aimed at rehabilitating the infrastructure to reduce the number of safety incidents in-between railway sections and around stations.

He said Prasa planned to re-open the corridor using modern trains as well as better signalling and other modern systems that would improve travelling times and reduce overcrowding.

“This as more trains can be put in the section at the same time, giving commuters more choices to plan their trips knowing that there will always be a next train on the platform.”

Games said the immediate benefits of new modernised infrastructure would create “safer, faster and smoother” services.

“The train services will be introduced in phases. The target date for phase 1 is November 2021 where some of the stations along the line will be operational. Phase 2 will see all the stations repaired and operational.”

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