High-speed train service plagued by theft and strike by drivers of its feeder bus service
The Gautrain service between Pretoria, Hatfield and Centurion was disrupted on Wednesday morning due to cable theft, a statement on the Gautrain website said.
The disruption was caused by cable theft at a sub-station and was expected to be repaired by mid-morning today.
According to the statement, a bus service between Hatfield, Pretoria and Centurion was running as an interim measure. This would double the frequency of the service from 12 minutes to 24 minutes.
“The Gautrain sincerely apologises to its commuters for this inconvenience,” the statement said.
Yesterday, the company said it expected its striking bus drivers will return to work today.
“It is therefore anticipated that all train and bus services will operate normally per schedule from [Wednesday],” Bombela spokesman Errol Braithwaite said in a statement. “Gautrain once again apologises to those customers who were inconvenienced by the illegal strike action [on Monday].”
The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) said about 400 bus drivers contracted to the Gautrain had a salary dispute.
“The Mega Express bus drivers earn about R4000 per month. It’s not enough for the high standard of living,” the union’s provincial chairman Ephraim Mphahlele said.
Mega Express is the only bus service contracted to ferry commuters to and from Gautrain stations.
“We are engaging with employers for decent salaries, and if it is not settled then workers will embark on a protected strike.”
The union said Monday’s illegal strike by some drivers was regrettable. “Satawu strongly condemns this action,” Mphahlele said in a statement.