Metrorail’s withdrawal of the Malmesbury train service on Monday (19 September) is undermining the ability of commuters to travel to economic opportunities. In fact, it is a major setback.
This according to Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Daylin Mitchell.
He said: “Just a few days ago we heard the National Minister of Transport saying we are well on track to deliver a rail system that is efficient, affordable, safe and reliable.
“The infrastructure upgrades and the deployment of new rolling stock would enable us to make commuter rail responsive to the needs of the vast majority of our people. Yet tomorrow we compromise on the needs of our people of Malmesbury.”
Mitchell said when the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) announced the withdrawal of the Malmesbury diesel train service and crew on Friday it cited challenges of depending on a service provider that provides diesel locomotives to complement the Malmesbury service, adding it was negotiating with the service provider to seek to resolve the challenge.
“One step forward and three steps back are far from being well on track,” he said.
“Commuter rail is indeed the cheapest mode of transport, and it has undeniably played a major role in getting millions of South Africans to work and other places. We must certainly do what we can to support economic growth sectors and provide for basic needs in marginalised areas. This is exactly why the suspension of the Malmesbury train service is a mind-boggling step.
“Every day without a train service is costing us millions in missed opportunities and constraining economic progress and job creation. This situation cannot continue, and something must change.”
The minister said rail passengers in the Western Cape currently face an impossible situation of either having no rail service or an unreliable service. “Travel times are long and planning around the commute is difficult, if not impossible,” he said.
“Commuters have no alternative but to pay extra money, which they do not have, for the continuous failures of Prasa. This is completely unacceptable and needs to change.
“I believe the devolution of the commuter rail function from the national government is the change we need.”
Mitchell says he will not rest until rail transport is restored and fully functional in the Western Cape.
He says meanwhile plans have been put in place to fill the gap temporarily by providing additional buses.
“I thank Golden Arrow Bus Services, in particular, for ensuring our Malmesbury commuters were not left completely stranded in the absence of trains yesterday (Monday).”
