Engineering News reports that commuter rail service Metrorail resumed the weekday train service between Naledi, in Soweto, and Johannesburg, with effect from Monday.
The service will make use of the entity’s new electric modular units (EMU) train sets for the first time. The trains will stop at the Naledi, Merafe, Inhlazane, Ikwezi, Dube, Phefeni, Phomolong, Mzimhlophe, New Canada, Longdale, Croesus, Langlaagte, Braamfontein and Johannesburg stations. There will be new conditions imposed on commuters using “The People’s Trains”, as parent company of Metrorail the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has dubbed them, including no smoking, weapons, littering, eating or drinking, churches, trading or gambling to be allow within the trains. Anyone breaking the rules will be liable to a fine. The EMU trains run at 120 km/h and have the capacity to carry 1,200 passengers. The six-car trains only move when the doors are closed and are fitted with surveillance cameras and air-conditioning. Prasa has budgeted R124-billion for the entire renewal project over 20 years. However, only parts of the country’s railway system are ready for the new trains. Prasa is working on upgrading other parts of its network as it plans to slowly phase out the older Metrorail coaches.
- Read the original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Read too, Metrorail resumes service on Naledi line with new electric trains, at News24
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