In the absence of official comment‚ cable theft and fare increases were among the reasons cited as possible reasons for the delays which affected two large segments of the Gautrain network on Wednesday morning.
Notice posted at OR Tambo. Picture: Kyle Zeeman
eNCA quoted Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager as saying the delays stemmed from a train that was stuck “in the vicinity” of the Sandton station. She gave no indication as to how long the problem would take to rectify.
Picture: Abigail Javier
Picture: Abigail Javier
Irate commuters took to Twitter to voice their frustration:
Señor Bob @_NateO_tweeted: “@702JohnRobbie so the temporary cessation of gautrain operation is due to cables that were stolen along the rosebank-sandton line....HOW?”
The shuttered gate of the northern entrance to Gautrain’s Rosebank station. Picture: Barry McCullum
Anti Corrupt @Moeriusie was annoyed at the lack of communication:
Yule @YuleD‚ however‚ appeared to have been forewarned at tweeted: “@ZenzoM_ @ThandoPeaches @TheGautrain we got smses though” with an attached screengrab of the missive.
The delay was particularly sore for Hoxani Wa ka Maphali @HoxaniM to take: “After I ran @ComradesRace no @TheGautrain Operations in Park-Sandton.I'm standing& stuck in traffic.All the running pains coming back again.”
Marco D. @markosix had a novel idea to make up for the discomfort:
That “Gautrain’s Fare Increase” was to be implemented on June 1 – Wednesday - was lost on KARABO @AnswerBii‚ who said: “So gautrain fares also going up today. I wish I left yesterday eish”‚ while Vanessa Mahlinza @VanessaM_17 lamented: “Wana increase train fare but the service and the way this was handled .... Poor ! Mxim #gautrain”.
hot sauce @Keneilwe__ didn’t mince her words: “for the first time ever i wasn't late and then the Gautrain f***s it all up”.
People faced missing their flights from ORT International Airport on Wednesday as that service failed to start on schedule‚ while commuters on the North-South line below Sandton station also faced setbacks‚ and the “train service between Sandton & Hatfield continues to operate to schedule”.
The service tweeted via @TheGautrain:
It followed this with: “Please note that a Gautrain bus service will operate between Sandton & Park Stations until train service is fully restored.”
- TMG Digital
