The Metrorail service, run by PRASA, will not be operational when the country moves to lockdown level three on 1 June.
This was earlier today announced by the Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, as he announced regulations pertaining to the sector come 1 June. He said the sector has since the lockdown, consistently emphasised that working with civil society, the department will redouble its efforts in ensuring that the transport sector is not responsible for the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“Through our engagements and evaluation of PRASA’s state of readiness to resume operations, we have concluded that the Metrorail commuter service is not ready. We continue to work closely with them in assessing each line and put measures in place to achieve an acceptable level of readiness,” he said.
“We are still rebuilding PRASA to become a formidable force. If currently, it was a well-oiled machine, we would not have had questions about its viability and capacity, but this is not currently the case.”
He said congestion and certain safety issues remained challenges in the fight to curb the spread of Covid-19. “Based on our evaluation, the service will only become operational on 1 July. We don’t want to risk workers who go to work.”
He said in terms of the revised timeline, services will resume on the following lines on 1 July:
- Pretoria to Pienaarspoort;
- Cape Town to Simonstown;
- East London to Berlin; and
- Port Elizabeth to Uitenhag
“When we presented level four directions, we indicated that commuter rail will resume operations gradually on an incremental basis, based on detailed plans submitted by operators,” he said.
In this regard, Gautrain resumed its operations at the beginning of May, while its airport service will run from 1 June 2020.
Long distance train transport will remain prohibited under lockdown level three, the minister announced
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