Mabopane train stopped by protest

Pretoria - Train services to Mabopane north of Pretoria were interrupted on Wednesday due to a service delivery protest, Metrorail said.

"Community members from an informal settlement between Akasia and Kopanong, north of Pretoria, have blocked Metrorail railway lines to Mabopane with rocks, and burning tyres, and damaged Metrorail signalling equipment such as cables, signals and signal boxes," said spokesperson Tony Games.

"This community is protesting against service delivery-related issues. This unfortunate behaviour has severely affected trains going to Mabopane. Trains are now turning around Akasiaboom Station."

The Mabopane line had been closed temporarily and rendered unsafe for running trains.

"Our duty as Metrorail is to protect our employees, commuters and assets. We are appealing to the community not to endanger the lives of innocent commuters going home by interrupting the normal train service."

Games said police had been called to the scene and a Metrorail technical team was deployed to the area to remove the stones, burning tyres and rubble from the lines.

"The technical team will also assess the damages on the line with a view to repair the damages."

He appealed to commuters to make alternative transport arrangements where possible.