Unease following Tuesday’s cancellation of Gautrain’s bus service in the country’s capital because of political violence combined with a false alarm on Wednesday morning upset some early commuters’ plans.
Passengers at stations in Pretoria reportedly abandoned their train trips on the North-South line after being informed via the public address system that a “technical fault” between Sandton and Park would add “an estimated 30 minutes” to journeys.
Also read: Stuck locomotive leaves Gautrain commuters stranded
The announcement also said a bus service would be operating between the stations.
Passengers who had arrived at Sandton on the East-West line made their way out of the station only to be informed by customer service staff that the announcement was “a false alarm” and trains “were running as usual”.
The usually packed first southbound train of the morning was noticeably emptier when it arrived at Sandton at 6am. Passengers aboard it told TMG Digital that commuters at stations north of Sandton returned to their vehicles after hearing the announcement.
“People were annoyed‚” 42-year-old Ben Schultz‚ who works in the Johannesburg CBD‚ told TMG Digital. “As soon as they heard the announcement‚ some swore then left the station. It was only when I asked the guards that I was told it was a false alarm. A bit of a pain after the troubles yesterday.”
On Tuesday‚ rioting in Tshwane prompted Gautrain to suspend its “Arcadia and Pretoria CBD bus routes” while its “train service continues to operate and is not affected”.
On Wednesday‚ the bus suspension was lifted‚ and “all bus routes are operating as usual in Tshwane”‚ the service tweeted via @The Gautrain.
– TMG Digital
False alarm and protest jitters scare off Gautrain commuters
Unease following Tuesday’s cancellation of Gautrain’s bus service in the country’s capital because of political violence combined with a false alarm on Wednesday morning upset some early commuters’ plans.
Passengers at stations in Pretoria reportedly abandoned their train trips on the North-South line after being informed via the public address system that a “technical fault” between Sandton and Park would add “an estimated 30 minutes” to journeys.
Also read: Stuck locomotive leaves Gautrain commuters stranded
The announcement also said a bus service would be operating between the stations.
Passengers who had arrived at Sandton on the East-West line made their way out of the station only to be informed by customer service staff that the announcement was “a false alarm” and trains “were running as usual”.
The usually packed first southbound train of the morning was noticeably emptier when it arrived at Sandton at 6am. Passengers aboard it told TMG Digital that commuters at stations north of Sandton returned to their vehicles after hearing the announcement.
“People were annoyed‚” 42-year-old Ben Schultz‚ who works in the Johannesburg CBD‚ told TMG Digital. “As soon as they heard the announcement‚ some swore then left the station. It was only when I asked the guards that I was told it was a false alarm. A bit of a pain after the troubles yesterday.”
On Tuesday‚ rioting in Tshwane prompted Gautrain to suspend its “Arcadia and Pretoria CBD bus routes” while its “train service continues to operate and is not affected”.
On Wednesday‚ the bus suspension was lifted‚ and “all bus routes are operating as usual in Tshwane”‚ the service tweeted via @The Gautrain.
– TMG Digital
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