How difficult is it to take a train from Khayelitsha to Cape Town on a Thursday morning? Very. At least that’s what MayCo member for transport Brett Herron discovered today.
Live-tweeting his morning fact-finding commute to understand the conditions travellers face on Metrorail’s trains, Herron was left “horrified & angry”.
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The day began well enough.
#TrainStories starting my day at Nolungile. Train delayed. Commuters abandoning train and heading for taxis “ayikho”! #Metrorail pic.twitter.com/6nf8LO0dPZ
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
But the mood soon changed.
“Commuters telling me to be prepared to cling onto the roof of the train it will be so overcrowded,” Herron tweeted, while waiting for a train to arrive at Nolungile Station.
#TrainStories listening to the most shocking stories of daily struggle to get to work. At Nolungile hoping to get on a train to Town. Commuters telling me to be prepared to cling onto the roof of the train it will be so overcrowded. pic.twitter.com/fmV9zrS7ZI
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
When the train did arrive…
I am shocked, pained & angry. I can’t believe what I just witnessed. I was unable to get on the train. People clinging to the roof and hanging on the sides. #TrainStories pic.twitter.com/FoJa6bx5zf
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
“I am shocked, pained & angry. I can’t believe what I just witnessed. I was unable to get on the train. People clinging to the roof and hanging on the sides,” he wrote.
Subsequent tweets revealed the alternative seating arrangements passengers endured on their journeys into Town.
The failure of PRASA & #Zuma government to provide a decent train service is a CRIME AGAINST THE POOR. It is up to us to prosecute them for it! pic.twitter.com/a1dCalwCju
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
This is what happened at Nolungile this morning when I tried to board a train. It is humiliating and degrading of our people. I listened to the most horrific stories of late journeys #TrainStories pic.twitter.com/yjuC3L0kaZ
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
Some passengers were reportedly not so lucky.
“Apparently a roof top passenger was electrocuted and died. It is stationary & empty at Nyanga and we are stuck too.”
This is the train we couldn’t get on. Note people on the roof. We’ve caught up with it. It’s been evacuated. Apparently a roof top passenger was electrocuted and died. It is stationary & empty at Nyanga and we are stuck too. #TrainStories Tragic. pic.twitter.com/fmeqOfownb
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
Herron eventually made it to Town three hours later.
We have finally arrived in Cape Town. We joined commuters at Nolungile in Khayelitsha at 5am. Nearly 3 hours later we got to our destination. I am horrified & angry at how cruel this is. We must act now. #TrainStories pic.twitter.com/h3UOPAoKe1
— Brett Herron (@brettherron) November 30, 2017
“I am horrified & angry at how cruel this is. We must act now,” he tweeted in his final update.
However other Twitter users weren’t appreciative of his lip service.
Some spoke of their own experiences.
I really don’t know how this is breaking news to you, Brett. The trains have been a nightmare for years, and yet you lot do nothing but say how terrible it is. Put a plan into place and implement it. Commuters cannot sit around waiting for the DA to finally get their arse in gear
— Jonathan Meyer (@jonathangmeyer) November 30, 2017
“At least you had an option as most of those people are on their last late notice so they’re forced. Taxis are was too expensive for their salaries as most have to take a minimum of 2 Taxis to get to town,” tweeted one user.
At least you had an option as most of those people are on their last late notice so they’re forced. Taxis are was too expensive for their salaries as most have to take a minimum of 2 Taxis to get to town
— ukhanki (@TboozeSA) November 30, 2017
“Ya neh thts everyday for cape town (sic),” wrote another.
Ya neh thts everyday for cape town
— Edward (@emalgas) November 30, 2017
In October Herron outlined the City of Cape Town’s plan to take over daily operations of Metrorail from Prasa.
“Following Council’s approval this morning, we will commence with our strategy for getting urban rail back on track,” he wrote in a statement.
“Our chief priority is to create a customer-centred urban rail system where rail becomes the norm and the mode of choice for the majority of Capetonians. For this to happen, the commuter must be at the centre of everything we do.
“I want to state from the outset that taking over the urban rail function will not happen overnight,” he concluded.
Herron’s tweets trended on Twitter briefly across South Africa Thursday morning.
Feature image: Memeburn
