Metrorail fails commuters

02 June 2008 - 02:00
By unknown

Metrorail should give serious consideration to giving train commuters information in advance about train delays.

Metrorail should give serious consideration to giving train commuters information in advance about train delays.

This would enable commuters to seek alternative transport timeously.

On May 29 commuters waited for information for Pretoria-bound trains from 5am.

Quick-thinking commuters left the platform to find alternative transport to work.

The only available information was on the information screen, showing the Pretoria-bound train scheduled to leave at 5.50am.

It would make sense if Metrorail were to inform commuters about delays early because the company has such information.

If this is not the case, how does Metrorail explain the availability of a Pretoria-bound train scheduled to leave Johannesburg station at 05.50am - in advance?

I thought Metrorail was genuine in pleading with commuters to be patient while improvement of service was under way. But I doubt if the company has the interest of commuters at heart.

The recent introduction of business class between Pretoria and Johannesburg, which caters for a handful of commuters, has added to the degradation of other train services.

Seats in the "first" class coaches are in tatters and have been left to rot.

The company must know that it is by far the largest daily transporter of commuters.

Mkhulu Mashau, Soweto