Motorists and pedestrians who make use of the Kenilworth Road rail crossing in the next few days would do well to practice extra caution \u2013 just in case a train comes charging through without warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Wednesday 1 March, around 19:15, Harfield Village resident Amy Purdon was driving across the tracks when she saw a train heading straight toward her vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy children and I, various pedestrians, and a few other cars all happily crossed the railway line, not realising that there was a train coming towards us from the Kenilworth station side towards the Harfield station.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Purdon says her car happened to be on the tracks when the train got close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLuckily, we were able to move in time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says the booms did not close and the stoplights did not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was a man in a yellow reflective jacket there, but he was not very efficient, and seemed to be more concerned with chatting to pedestrians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The frightening experience prompted Purdon to send a query to Metrorail, asking if load shedding was the cause for the booms and lights at Kenilworth Road rail crossing not working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis intersection is very busy. I implore you all to assist in ensuring that the rail intersection remains powered at all times,\u201d she wrote in an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When People\u2019s Post<\/span> checked with Purdon last week if she received a response to her query, she said it had been radio silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot a single reply.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n People\u2019s Post<\/em><\/span>, however, had more luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Zinobulali Mihi, Head of Department (acting): Marketing and Communications, Prasa, the level crossing of the signaling system is fully functional and is working according to the design criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnfortunately, load shedding resulted in our battery backup system being damaged. The backup system was meant to keep it operational in the event of load shedding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mihi says a process to get a service provider to repair the backup system is underway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs this is a supply chain process, we will await until the process is completed,\u201d Mihi says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs an interim measure, when the level crossing becomes non operational due to faulty\/technical conditions or load shedding, we post a crossing attendant at the level crossing to regulate traffic with the intention of avoiding potential risks such as near misses and train collisions with oncoming trains.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Motorists and pedestrians who make use of the Kenilworth Road rail crossing in the next few days would do well to practice extra caution \u2013 just in case a train comes charging through without 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