Update, Thursday 27 Feb, 5.30pm: Eskom has restored the power to the Cape Town Metrorail train system, the service announced on Twitter.
Metrorail has also now resumed its service.
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Delays of more than 60 minutes should be expected.
Regional announcement – Service recovery underway #ServiceAdvisory pic.twitter.com/S2lyJhmPfr
— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) February 27, 2020
Original article: The Cape Town Metrorail train service is “temporarily suspended” across the province due to a “loss of overhead electrical power”, the public transport operator announced on Thursday.
“The regional train service is temporarily suspended due to loss of traction power supply,” it added in a later tweet.
#ServiceAlert :
Please note Regional announcement pic.twitter.com/mFI2Y3eL7L— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) February 27, 2020
#RegionalAnnouncement :
Regional train service is temporarily suspended pic.twitter.com/xmODFAZ2mt— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) February 27, 2020
This effectively means that, as of 4pm, no passenger trains are running in Cape Town on any line.
What’s the cause of the power loss?
While the initial statement suggested that a technical issue was at fault a statement released by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) acting regional manager Raymond Maseko suggests that the power has been cut by Eskom directly.
“It saddens me to confirm that the entire regional network has been temporarily suspended this afternoon due to Eskom cutting our traction power supply,” said Maseko.
Maseko has also revealed that salary payments have been delayed to the PRASA employees, suggesting that non-payment could be an issue.
You can read the full statement below, reposted by journalist Quinton Mtyala.
News24’s Jenna Etheridge has also confirmed that no trains would be operating for the remainder of Thursday.
Prasa's acting regional manager for @CapeTownTrains Raymond Maseko has just announced that the entire train service in the province has been temporarily suspended because @Eskom_SA cut its traction power supply. There's also been a delaying in paying salaries. pic.twitter.com/fqHPkh2LMF
— Quinton Mtyala (@mtyala) February 27, 2020
Commuters across Cape Town stranded
Cape Town Metrorail passengers were asked to make use of their “own alternative transport,” but many don’t have that luxury.
“This is a disaster,” one passenger wrote.
How do you expect us to get home @CapeTownTrains
— shaun valentine (@ValentineShaun) February 27, 2020
This is a complete disaster!!!
— XVR Casalana (@XVRCasalana) February 27, 2020
It’s not clear when power will be restored. Metrorail’s Twitter account has also confirmed that there are no buses available.
Commuters can follow Metrorail Telegram or Twitter for updates.
This is a developing story. Expect further updates.
Feature image: Metrorail
