Old infrastructure, theft derailing Metrorail

[schumi]

Cape Town - Metrorail is unable to guarantee commuters that scenes like those witnessed at Cape Town station on Monday night will not be repeated, the company says.

Angry commuters went on the rampage because trains were running late, setting coaches alight, and damaging a MyCiTi bus and shops in the station precinct.

Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said the delays were caused by an overloaded electrical system which tripped and brought trains to a halt.

Scott said that even though the rail service operator tried to ensure service was uninterrupted, there were no guarantees that delays would not occur.

“Each incident is evaluated after the event to ensure that preventive actions are implemented,” said Scott, when asked how the company planned to avoid future incidents of vandalism and violence by commuters.

Scott said the primary reasons for delays were old and obsolete technology as a result of decades of disinvestment in railways, and perpetual vandalism.

The theft and vandalism of assets, mainly cables and other metal-bearing components, resulted in services being unreliable.

“The current reality is that the old and poor condition of rolling stock and infrastructure impact negatively on the ability of Metrorail to achieve its objective of delivering quality services to customers,” said Scott.

“We empathise with commuters who were cold, late and hungry with families waiting at home.

“However, disruptions to the train service are not planned or orchestrated by Metrorail, but are caused by external factors and/or as a result of obsolescence,” she said.

More at: http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/old-infrastructure-theft-derailing-metrorail-9827947

 

[ɹǝuuᴉM]

And 30y ago South Africa had such a well run and efficient railway .... I wonder what went wrong?

 

[supersunbird]

Scott said the primary reasons for delays were old and obsolete technology as a result of decades of disinvestment in railways, and perpetual vandalism.

“However, disruptions to the train service are not planned or orchestrated by Metrorail, but are caused by external factors and/or as a result of obsolescence,” she said.

So this disinvestment is accidental and not planned?

Fkn clowns.

 

[skeptic_SA]

The running of the country and its infrastructure was handed over to a terrorist organisation with aims of furthering one demographic at the expense of the county?

 

[KantSnyer]

Old infrastructure, theft derailing "Insert State Owned Company here"

 

[saturnz]

We empathise with commuters who were cold, late and hungry with families waiting at home.

simply not good enough, expect more people to rage

 

[R13...]

The running of the country and its infrastructure was handed over to a terrorist organisation with aims of furthering one demographic at the expense of the county?

How does neglecting such infrastructure further any demographic when that demographic depends on that same infrastructure for economic activity?

 

[JungleBoy]

How does neglecting such infrastructure further any demographic when that demographic depends on that same infrastructure for economic activity?

Oh nothing. It's just another illogical rambling by a MyBB lunatic. Leave him alone

 

[konfab]

How does neglecting such infrastructure further any demographic when that demographic depends on that same infrastructure for economic activity?

Terrorist organisations are not known for their foresight.