Chikunga says all systems go for train services in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said it's all systems go for train services in Cape Town.

Chikunga and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) board members took a train ride on the city's southern line from Fish Hoek station into the CBD.

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Chikunga is in town to assess the strides made to improve the rail network and restore idle lines impacted by vandalism and theft.

A pressing concern of most rail commuters in the Western Cape is the timeline of a full central line operation.
 
Chikunga said train services between Khayelitsha and the CBD was the next priority. 
 
The resumption of train services on the central line has been derailed by infrastructure theft, vandalism, and informal houses being built on rail reserves. 
 
However, Chikunga said train services between the CBD and Nolungile train station in Khayelitsha would resume in May.
 
“Indeed, we have not yet installed signalling. So, we will still be running those trains partially, and operating them manually."

Chikunga is expected to launch train number 200 of the new blue trains operating countrywide.
 
The minister said they hope to have 600 of these blue trains running by 2031.