Railway lines damaged after heavy downpour
It is unknown when the lines will be reopened.
HEAVY rains from Friday 12, to Sunday, 14 May left commuters in dire straits after the railway line between Jacobs and Island View stations was damaged.
The deluge in the hilly area saw sand cover the tracks, making it impassable, leaving some commuters stranded.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) quickly stepped in to set up a bus service which picked up commuters at Jacobs station and transferred them to Island View and vice versa.
The only other service affected by the rain was the Umbogintwini to Isipingo line, where a deep chasm saw the line suspended when the deluge washed away a supporting embankment.
“Commuters are to note that the current trains are old and in many cases have reached the end of their life cycle. The trains that are in use are unfortunately susceptible to failure. While every effort is made to run this service as advertised, issues such as train failures, vandalism, theft and sabotage prohibit maintaining schedules.
“Commuters are further requested to refrain from venting their anger at PRASA staff, in particular, train crews and station staff. Likewise destruction to PRASA property only results in less resources being available.
“It is recommended that commuters consider alternative transport if punctuality is critical to their travel. PRASA apologises for the inconvenience and also appeals for patience and understanding during this period,” said PRASA.
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