Metrorail Western Cape

Metrorail Western Cape Region
A Metrorail train pulling out of Kalk Bay station.
Info
Owner	PRASA
Locale	Cape Town, Western Cape
Transit type	Commuter rail
Number of lines	4
Number of stations	109 (+ 5 halts)
Daily ridership	621,000 (as of 2004[update])
Chief executive	Lindelo Matya
Website	http://www.capemetrorail.co.za
Call Centre	0800 65 64 63 (Toll Free)
Operation
Operator(s)	Metrorail
Number of vehicles	85 trainsets (868 coaches)
Technical
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead Lines at 3000V DC
Top speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
System map

Metrorail Western Cape is a network of commuter and suburban rail services in the metropolitan area of Cape Town, South Africa. It is operated by Metrorail, which operates commuter rail service in the major cities of South Africa. The routes are probably the most comprehensive of any of the cities in South Africa but some key areas have no train service, notably the Atlantic suburbs and Tableview.

There are 81 operational trainsets, made up of 868 coaches. There are 671 scheduled trains per weekday, operating over 423 kilometres (263 mi) of track to 109 stations and 5 halts. As of 2004^[update] there were an average of 621,000 daily weekday passenger trips.^[1] The services are divided into three areas, each of which has various branches.

Most services commence or terminate at the main Cape Town station in the centre of the city, which has 24 platforms. All services are by electric multiple units, aside from the daily train to Malmesbury which is on a non-electrified line.

Routes

Southern Line

Main article: Southern Line (Cape Town)

The Southern Line travels from central Cape town through the Southern Suburbs to Muizenberg, and then along the edge of False Bay to Simon's Town. Although Simon's Town is the southern terminus, many trains terminate at Fish Hoek because the line south is single-track.

Cape Flats Line

Main article: Cape Flats Line

The Cape Flats Line travels east from Cape Town as far as Maitland, then turns south through Athlone, rejoining the Southern Line at Heathfield. The service terminates at Retreat.

Central Line

Main article: Central Line (Cape Town)

The Central Line serves areas to the south-east of the city centre. Trains run from Cape Town to Langa on two different routes, one around the southern side and the other around the eastern side of Pinelands. From Langa they travel on one of three lines, going either to Mitchell's Plain, to Khayelitsha, or through Belhar to Bellville.

Northern Line

Main article: Northern Line (Cape Town)

The Northern Line serves the northern suburbs of Cape Town as well as some outlying towns. Some trains travel from Cape Town station to Bellville along the old main line through Salt River, Maitland, Goodwood and Parow, while others travel along the relief main line via Century City. After Bellville, trains run on one of three routes: through Kraaifontein and Paarl to Wellington; via Kuils River and Stellenbosch to Muldersvlei; or via Kuils River and Somerset West to Strand.

Two "Business Express" trains provide a luxury commuter service, travelling from the suburbs to Cape Town in the morning and the reverse in the afternoon. One train runs from Huguenot (Paarl) via Kraaifontein and Brackenfell to Cape Town, while the other runs from Strand via Somerset West and Kuils River to Cape Town.

There are also two longer distance trains stopping at all stations en-route daily. One along the main-line to Worcester and at 174 km (108 mi) the longest possible route on a commuter train in South Africa. The other is the only diesel-hauled commuter train in the Western Cape to Malmesbury which travels 78 km (48 mi) on the route to Bitterfontein.

Commuting tips

Travelling on Cape Town’s suburban railway system provides a relatively safe, affordable and easy way of getting around. Millions of people travel on the system every week without harm and only very isolated incidents take place. Except for private security, Metrorail also has the Railway Police and SAPS doing duties to ensure the safety of their passengers. Just remember the four Golden Rules: Stay in a group where possible, don't advertise any valuable items, keep on the lookout for suspicious people and remember good people are in the majority!

Tourists are advised to buy a first class or MetroPlus ticket, this entitles them to better security and more comfortable seating. Tickets can, and should only, be brought at station ticket offices or from uniformed mobile ticket vendors with yellow ticketing machines. Staff at ticket offices and mobile ticket vendors will also assist with train information regarding schedules, platforms facilities etcetera.

Prospective travellers are urged to first consult the Call Centre or website to determine a route and suitable timetable. It should be noted that frequencies can vary vastly from weekday peak to weekend off peaks. Services to Simon’s Town, Bellville via Century City, Strand, Muldersvlei (via Stellenbosch) and Wellington are less frequent over weekends with a train about every hour on Saturdays and every two hours on a Sunday. In contrast, weekday frequencies on some lines offer three minute headways.

Every train displays a four digit digital or analogue train number. The route and destination of a specific train can be determined by just looking at the train number. Up trains travel towards Cape Town and carry even train numbers. Down trains travel away from Cape Town and carry odd train numbers. Destinations can be derived from the following table:

Up Train no.	Route	Down Train no.	Notes	Length
01xx	Fish Hoek ↔ Cape Town	01xx	See next entry	30km
02xx	Fish Hoek ↔ Cape Town	02xx	Afternoon peak	30km
05xx	Retreat ↔ Cape Town	05xx	Via Cape Flats line	24km
23xx	Eersterivier ↔ Cape Town	23xx	Some weekend trains terminate at Faure	34km
25xx	Kraaifontein ↔ Cape Town	25xx		31km
28xx	Bellville ↔ Cape Town	28xx	Via Monte Vista and Century City	21km
32xx	Strand ↔ Cape Town	32xx		53km
34xx	Muldersvlei ↔ Cape Town	34xx	Via Stellenbosch	61km
35xx	Wellington ↔ Cape Town	35xx	Includes service to Worcester (174km)	72km
90xx	Bellville ↔ Cape Town	90xx	Via Sarepta (No distinction, Ysterplaat / Soutrivier)	28km
92xx	Kapteinsklip ↔ Cape Town	92xx	Via Ysterplaat, some terminations at Nyanga	32km
95xx	Kapteinsklip ↔ Cape Town	95xx	Via Soutrivier, some terminations at Nyanga	32km
93xx	Chris Hani ↔ Cape Town	93xx	Via Soutrivier	38km
99xx	Chris Hani ↔ Cape Town	99xx	Via Ysterplaat	38km
94xx	Khayelitsha ↔ Cape Town	94xx	All trains via Ysterplaat	34km

Incidents

• On 13 November 2006, a train hit a truck stalled on an unprotected level crossing. The truck was carrying at least 33 farmworkers; nineteen were killed and six injured.
• On 25 August 2010, a train hit a minibus taxi that had allegedly driven round the boom barriers on a level crossing. The minibus was carrying fourteen schoolchildren, of whom ten were killed.

See also

• Metrorail (South Africa)
• Cape Town
• South Africa Heritage Railways

References

1. ^ 2006 Time Table. Metrorail Cape. 2006. 

External links

• Metrorail Cape Town website
• "2010 Map Local passenger rail routes of South Africa: Western Cape: Cape Town". Metrorail. http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/_routes/Cape_Town_Rail_Map_May_2010.pdf. Retrieved 12 February 2011. 
• Steam tourism