0
0
The station was closed in 2021 because of vandalism, theft and other crimes.
Pietermaritzburg Railway station has recently resumed passenger service after its closure in 2020. The station was serving 6,000 passengers per month before its closure.
This past weekend the Shosholoza Meyl resumed it’s route between Johannesburg to Durban, making stops in Pietermaritzburg and Germiston. It also made New Castle, Standerton and Ladysmith. Makanda said that the train would run on a daily basis in December during peak times. In the off-season, only one train will run per month.
It departed Johannesburg on Saturday and returned Sunday.
The station, and its railway tracks were rendered unusable due to the high level of theft and vandalism. Andiswa Makanda, spokesperson of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, (PRASA), said that theft of copper wiring and signalling infrastructure is still a major problem.
No date has been set to restart services between Pietermaritzburg (PZB) and destinations within KwaZulu-Natal. For now, there is no train service between Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The Saturday Shosholoz Meyl only serves as a pickup and drop off for Durban and only takes passengers to Johannesburg on the way back. There is one flat price of R170 for economy class, and R360 for tourist class. This applies regardless of the location where passengers board or disembark.
The Shosholoza-Meyl train is part of the long-distance service provided by PRASA for travel between provinces.
It was supposed to leave Johannesburg at 6:30pm Friday night and arrive at Pietermaritzburg by 6am Saturday morning, but it arrived only at 4pm Saturday afternoon, nearly ten hours later.
Makanda said that the delay occurred because the train had to reduce its speed significantly to avoid derailment, due to the poor state of the track which has deteriorated as a result of lack of maintenance. Transnet owns and maintains the line.
The route was also closed by a broken down goods train outside Pietermaritzburg.
Zimele duma was a passenger who expressed his displeasure at the long delay. He had his children wait for him all day at the taxi stand.
Duma was unhappy with the train crew’s lack of communication and claimed that the trip wasn’t worth it.
He said, “The train was better before and now is worse.”
After years of vandalism, the Pietermaritzburg train station has recently been refurbished. Roof was fixed but it leaked during recent rainstorms.
Makanda said that he had sent a team to inspect the roof to see if there was any damage.
PRASA KZN reopened its four metro corridors, including Umlazi and KwaMashu. It also reopened the South Coast, Cato Ridge, and South Coast.
Roof services are vital for your home’s longevity and structural integrity. If you want to know more or get better information or see the multiple options we have, you can check The Roof Technician commercial flat roof repair services in Toronto. Roofs are subject to wear and tear over time from the weather, which can lead to structural problems or leaks. Commercial flat roof installation services offer comprehensive solutions that include inspections, roof repairs, reroofing and installation of high-quality roofing materials. They ensure your home is protected, increasing its resistance to weather challenges while maintaining its value. Expert roofing services are a proactive way to protect your business or home and provide a reliable and durable roofing system.
