October 17, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
CITY officials took a short trip in a Metrorail train yesterday – and it wasn't pleasant. The mayoral committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee, was joined by ward councillors on the journey, from Park Station to Langlaagte on Monday.
They undertook the trip to interact with commuters and to listen to the challenges they are faced with on daily basis. The officials also spoke to the commuters about some of the programmes and projects undertaken by the city to improve transportation.
Member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee shares her experiences of the train trip with councillors
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
"It's really interesting to hear from the commuters [rather] than just getting the statistics," Moosajee said. "People find trains more affordable than any other public transport mode."
Speaking about her experience on the train, she added: "I'm a horrified by the situation here in the trains. The trains are overcrowded, train surfing by commuters is very horrific and some commuters sit outside the train coaches while the train is moving – and that is very dangerous and nothing is done about it."
Some of the concerns raised by the commuters included the unavailability of trains; trains frequently being stopped, making commuters late for work; and overcrowding.
But there was some positive feedback. According to 32-year-old Phillip Radebe and his friends from Katlehong in Ekurhuleni, the crime rate on the trains has decreased. "The only problem we have is that the trains are always late and overcrowded," he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Poppie Moloko from Protea Glen. "We need more coaches for third class. There are lot of first class coaches which are always empty; when it's overcrowded we use them but we end up getting a fine of up to R40. Metrorail needs to improve its service," said the 42-year-old.
Metrorail's events manager, Pearl Mthembu, said the trains were always overcrowded because people preferred riding in their social groups where they could have a church service on their way to work and back home.
"We can't separate people because they choose to ride with their friends and I believe they feel more comfortable that way."
Zoleka Qungqa from Daveyton, who has to wake up at 3am to get to work in Lenasia on time, is lucky to have employers who are aware of the problems commuters experience with the trains and understand when she is late for work.
Joburg's mayoral committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee, chats to commuters
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
"Trains get stopped everywhere; as a result I get to work very late. I might even loose my job one day because of being late – it will get to a point where my employers are upset about my coming to work late," she said.
Speaking about complaints of trains being late and being stopped along the way, Mthembu blamed this on cable theft and power failure. "People are always stealing these cables. Imagine if a 10km cable is stolen and how long [it will take] and how much will it cost us to replace it.
"Kids who jump in and out of moving trains are always arrested but they are released immediately because they are under age. They come back and do it over and over again," she added.
The lack of name boards at some stations and the lack of announcements made in the trains were also raised.
"If I was alone I would get lost here because there is no board stating that this is Langlaagte Station," Moosajee said. "And there should be an announcer. This would be useful for first-time users of trains."
Then, as the councillors waited for a train back to Park Station, a woman who had just boarded a train shouted through a window, "Please help us and improve the trains system."
Moosajee concluded that a "lot of work needs to be done to improve the situation on the trains".
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