City Vision reports that the Gugulethu Development Forum (GDF) has welcomed the reinstatement of trains to Nyanga railway station.
On 4 April, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) reintroduced trains on the central line as far as Nyanga. This after years of no service and vandalism of rail infrastructure. The relaunch was spearheaded by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who boarded a train from Nyanga to Cape Town Train Station. The opening of the central line is the latest in a series of moves to reintroduce trains in the Cape Town metro. GDF chair Vincent Domingo said the reinstatement of trains to Nyanga was long overdue. He noted that it was beneficial not only for commuters but also for the vendors who relied on the Metrorail infrastructure to earn a living. “Trains are way cheaper than other modes of transport,” he observed. However, Domingo urged Prasa to ensure there were limited delays for commuters and proper communication. Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape Minister for Mobility, said: “Although there is still a long way to go to restore full rail services to all communities, seeing commuters travelling to work again on this line is an excellent first step. One of our top mobility priorities is the restoration of rail as the backbone of public transport in Cape Town and other rail links in our province for both the movement of people and goods.” She added that one of the key issues was to ensure that adequate security was in place to prevent any vandalism or attacks on commuters.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Obose at City Vision
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