An Eyewitness News and Cape Argus feature.
Commuter rail transport in South Africa is beset by ongoing problems, especially in the Western Cape. The problem is not new, and despite plans to replace ageing infrastructure, the problem is set to continue for a long time still.
The South African media has covered many aspects of this ongoing story, and what we want to do with 'The Metrorail Diaries' isn't entirely new, but rather a unique insight into how it affects the lives of ordinary people. We so often use the blanket term 'commuters' but these are real people who face very real obstacles on a day-to-day basis, while trying to make a living.
Inspired in part by 'Underheard New York' where a group of homeless people were equipped with cellphones to document their thoughts via Twitter, we have put together a small group of people who travel by train everyday on various lines heading into the Cape Town CBD to document their journeys.
It’s hoped this will give us a very real understanding of how exactly Metrorail's service is impacting on their lives, but also that of the hundreds of thousands of other commuters who rely on the rail operator on a daily basis.
MEET OUR TRAVELLERS
Candice Esben
I joined thousands of Metrorail commuters as a first-year varsity student in 2004. Since then I’ve travelled the northern line between Eerste River and Bellville, Eerste River and Stellenbosch and now Eerste River to Cape Town. One cannot really associate Metrorail with highs, but I must admit that it’s cheaper than petrol, there’s no traffic, and you meet interesting characters and even make new friends. But it’s not always safe, it’s unreliable as the trains are often late or cancelled. Because of delays and cancellations, the trains are extremely full. The state of the carriages has also become worse over the years – some, especially MetroPlus, don’t even have seats.
Chanel September
I’ve been a Metrorail commuter for the past five years. I travel every day on the Northern Line between Strand and Cape Town. The highs include being able to sleep, once you’ve managed to get a seat, and getting to overhear conversations from people from all walks of life. The lows include the constant train delay and cancellations, dirty coaches, a lack of security onboard trains, carriages full to capacity, unhelpful Metrorail staff members.
Edlynn Calvert
I travel via Metrofail … I mean Metrorail … on the Southern Suburbs line every day.
The only positive is that I don’t have to deal with the traffic every day. The negative aspects are that the trains are late most days, they’re always full, they’re often cancelled, the seats and windows are broken and there’s no security. Considering the steep hike in fares, I believe they should at least offer us a better service, especially for commuters travelling from afar (Paarl to town).
Graeme Raubenheimer
I’ve been taking Metrorail trains around Cape Town for nearly a year. Before that I travelled by minibus taxi for three years.The plus side in taking the train is that it’s supposed to get you to your destination faster than taking a taxi or bus. But ongoing delays caused by attacks on Metrorail’s ailing infrastructure, has left me wondering whether trains are reliable at all. I think my worst experience on a train was witnessing a verbal, racist attack between commuters on a trip to Lakeside from Simons Town. In a new South Africa where many rely on public transport, this shouldn’t be tolerated.
Jessica Morkel
I’m a single mother of two, living in Athlone. I have been travelling on trains for the last twelve years and now use the Cape Flats line on a daily basis. I enjoy travelling by train as I don’t have to sit in traffic for an hour and a half. But the service is very unpredictable and unreliable. Having to call your boss to say that the trains are delayed or cancelled and hoping that they’ll understand, becomes frustrating at times. In summer you sit in full carriages that do not have windows. In winter trains are delayed or cancelled due to technical difficulty, caused by rain. They've somehow not been able to fix this problem over the years.
I look forward to keeping you all posted in the coming week on the trains on my line
Lynnette Johns
Unlike thousands of commuters, I am fortunate to travel to work using my car, but I do know from being a reporter, that travelling on a Metrorail train is anything but pleasant. Over the years, the Cape Argus has reported extensively on the problems with Metrorail, the frustrations suffered by commuters, safety issues, crime and grime. I am looking forward to reporting first-hand my experience.
MONDAY - DAY ONE
A selection of tweets via @Metroraildiary:
* Just got into a 3rd class coach train full no seat available dozens of people standing #MetrorailDiaries CS
* If my tweets stop its because its too dangerous to use phone on the train.#MetrorailDiaries LJ
* Maybe I should do what this commuter is doing. Sitting on the floor seems to be working for her #MetrorailDiaries CS
* Man jumps out of moving carriage some commuters hold their breath while others shout at him for being irresponsible #MetrorailDiaries CS
* @ nyanga station we're packed in like sardines. windows can't open. #MetrorailDiaries LJ
* Doors open, train too full people hanging out holding on to door pole. #MetrorailDiaries LJ
* Must say I'm on a very clean train, no graffiti in sight. Most seats are full, it's stand and tweet for me. #MetrorailDiaries GR
* My train friends godfrey and mncedisi are late. The train is running late. #MetrorailDiaries LJ
* I spot the train opposite mine and commuters are literally hanging out the open doors. That train's en-route to Parow. GR
* An hour-and-a-half from my home to office my car would have been quicker #MetrorailDiaries LJ
EWN Cape Town Editor Janine Willemans takes a look at day one
Our MetrorailDairies group has completed its first morning of tweeting. Of the six members, only Graeme Raubenheimer had a completely incident-free ride into the Cape Town CBD.
Jessica Morkel’s train arrived on time at Athlone station, but two stops just before Maitland and Cape Town stations meant her journey into work was a bit of a stop-start affair.
Chanel September and Candice Esben were both kept waiting longer than usual for their respective trains and when they finally arrived, they too faced one or two unscheduled stops between stations. Candice’s train arrived in Cape Town half an hour later than scheduled.
Cape Argus reporter, Lynnette Johns who hasn’t been on a train in years met some interesting characters along the way and was also not spared a pit stop just short of her destination. It took her an hour and a half from home to the office. She believes a car journey would have been quicker.
Spare a thought though for Primedia Productions Co-ordinator, Edlynn Calvert who arrived at Diep River station at 7.40am and only boarded a train at 8.10am. All this time there was but one announcement via the public address system.
TUESDAY - DAY TWO
A selection of tweets via @Metroraildiary:
* It's really cold on this train. People chatting, some reading & others sleeping. On our way to Bellville station. #MetrorailDiaries CE
* Did I mention how much I hate it when the train stops between stations? And we wait... #MetrorailDiaries CS
* Heading towards Kuilsriver now train packed. People hanging out by the door #MetrorailDiaries C
* The preaching has begun, I hope its not a msg of condemnationso loved by train preachers. #MetrorailDiaries LJ
* Tygerberg station has NO signboards indicating train times, but there are several Metrorail officials. #MetrorailDiaries GR
* Metrorail Business Express train drives past. what luxury. Those commuters sipping on coffee and reading AM papers #MetrorailDiaries CS
* Just ran from carriage to carriage looking for space on board the train to CPT. Its a full house! #MetrorailDiaries GR
* Feel like the 36th tomato in the can. I can't move #MetrorailDiaries JM
* Was knocked out the way in a very loud and full metro carriage! #MetrorailDiaries EC
* 35mins and we in Cape Town with no hiccups! #MetrorailDiaries EC
Metrorail in the Western Cape says it is determined to improve its service.
Eyewitness News and the Cape Argus launched the Metrorail Diaries this week, giving commuters a platform to air their views on what's been labeled an ailing rail network. Delays, vandalism, crime and dirty carriages are just some of the ongoing issues plaguing Metrorail. It is a service responsible for ferrying more than 50 percent of Capetonians, who rely on public transport, to and from work daily But what is being done to improve the rail network? Listen to Graeme's report in the multimedia section below.
WEDNESDAY - DAY THREE
A selection of tweets via @Metroraildiary:
* Hassle free trip to town this morning. And the train was on time. Till later #MetrorailDiaries CE
* No officials means no access control, this may lead to fare defaulters, no money means a poorer service for you and me. #MetrorailDiaries GR
* Morning all! @GraemeRauby here at Tygerberg station, and guess what? No Metrorail officials present. #MetrorailDiaries GR
* Pulling into Eersteriver station I just see people don't know where they'll fit carriage full #MetrorailDiaries CS
* All I can hear is a commuter shouting "maak oop die V@£!?k deur! #MetrorailDiaries CS
* On the 3408 to Cape Town from Tygerberg. The carriages are well, jam alley! Pick a spot and be squashed. #MetrorailDiaries GR
* At Bellville station - my train right on time. No hassles on this journey #MetrorailDiaries CS
* Still standing on Diep River station and no announcement of "Trains are delayed" #MetrorailDiaries EC
* Every 5 minutes I check my bag and phone. You never know in this crowded carriage anything can happen. #MetrorailDiaries CS
* In CPT! My train made excellent time this morning. I'm quite chuffed! Some still sleeping - wake up, we're here! #MetrorailDiaries GR
* Walls are colorfully decorated with words one should not mention...#MetrorailDiaries EC
* Guys prefer to ride with the door open #MetrorailDiaries EC