Hundreds ‘forced to evacuate’ Gautrain
JOBURG- If it wasn't conspicuous enough that more than 100 people were parked after 9pm at the Gautrain Midrand Station, the events that followed will give nightmarish jolts to those suffering from claustrophobia.
These 100 people (including this reporter) were all volunteers for Bombela who answered an open call to help in a simulated evacuation to ensure the Gautrain rapid rail is safe in case of disaster in the tunnels between Sandton and Park Stations on 5 July. The same sprawling tunnels under Jozi’s roads most city dwellers seem blithely unaware of.
Warnings before the underground adventure included not to kill any rats, to stay calm, and to follow those wearing reflective vests.
After a short train ride, the train was stopped in the main tunnel. The announcement was made that the train was ‘having problems’ and volunteers were told to exit into the tunnel.
It is noteworthy that the tunnel between Sandton and Park Station is remarkably well lit. The tunnel was also peculiarly well maintained with no rat droppings, strange carcasses or rodents scampering about.
A lot of this must be due to Gautrain’s strict No Food rule, and the fact that windows cannot be opened. With no trash possibly containing food flung from the train (common practise on Metro rail), rodents must have little by way of sustenance, making the tunnels a no-man’s land.
Exit doors are every few 100 meters along the main rail of tunnel. The exits however open to more tunnels, which seem dauntingly unnavigable for a first-time visitor.
The exit the group of volunteers took led into a vast tunnel that had no rail. The end of it was blocked with a door, but those with a rebellious streak peeked behind it.
The tunnel continued further down, almost like it would reach the evil lair of a James Bond villain. Or perhaps the office of Parks Tau? Along the walls were strange plugs and dials and lights, and all sorts of thingy’s you could see should never be touched unless you knew what they did.
While waiting in the tunnel, engineers were busy ‘fixing’ the train, the ‘victims’ hurt during the faux accident were treated.
It took just under five hours to get back to the train after the underground exploration, and leave the dark tunnels for the cold winter air. Exploring the underbelly of the city is a privilege, even claustrophobia-sufferers should consider.
