POLOKO TAU
T HIS is a shocking picture of damaged railway tracks in Soweto, which train drivers and passengers believe are a ticking time bomb.
The visibly warped and uneven rails between Kliptown and Chiawelo stations have turned commuters’ train ride into an uncomfortable and scary experience.
Metrorail, however, insists the rails are “safe for use, but at reduced speed”.
The problem apparently lies with the foundation on which the rails were laid.
Drivers and commuters, however, fear for their lives and say something must be done about the dicey tracks – and soon.
The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) expressed concern, after they went to inspect the railway line yesterday, following a call from The Star on Wednesday.
“(The regulator) is concerned about the condition of the track. The RSR recognises that the line is not in a satisfactory condition,” said RSR safety assurance general manager Letsane Rathaba.
Two drivers accused Metrorail of “neglecting what could be a serious safety hazard and a recipe for catastrophe”. They spoke on condition of anonymity.
“The train shakes and it feels like it’s slithering. It’s like consciously driving a car into a huge and deep pothole, which is an obvious risk,” one driver said.
Another said the problem had been reported to Metrorail, which, instead of fixing the damaged section, reduced trains’ speed limit.
“The speed was first reduced from 60km/h to 30km/h around November 2009 and, eventually, to 15km/h earlier this year.
“Speed reduction was supposed to be a temporary measure, while they expected to fix the rails, but that has not happened in over two years,” said the driver.
Rathaba said reducing speed was “acceptable as a short-term solution in certain cases”.
“However, it should not become a permanent way of getting away with inadequate maintenance practices. The civil engineer may lay down certain parameters to maintain the line temporally until the defect is fixed permanently.”
“It is danger lying in wait… You can feel the jarring movement as the train bumps hard against the uneven rails,” said Concerned Commuters Organisation of SA spokesman Bongani Ntuli.
“It’s like walking on thin ice and it does not seem Metrorail sees any urgency in fixing the damage and avoiding a tragedy.”
Metrorail drivers have been charged for speeding before, and we can’t stop thinking of the consequences if one speeds there.”
Ntuli said commuters could not be blamed about being concerned, after 857 passengers were injured in a Soweto train crash in May.
“Metrorail knows we’re worried about our safety while in their trains. Train rides are not as smooth as they used to be. The damaged rails in Soweto are not the only ones.
“We hear nothing but more and more safety concerns every time in commuter meetings, and we think Metrorail must start acting and stop complaining about financial constraints where lives are at stake,” Ntuli said.
Metrorail said it was aware of the problem, which it described as “misalignment of the track caused by insufficient drainage systems, especially sub-surface drainage”.
“This has caused the weakening of the formation, resulting in low bearing pressure and progressive shear failure from repeated wheel loading. The formation of the stiffness has influenced the ballast (concrete stones layer), sleeper (concrete blocks under the tracks) and rail deterioration,” said Metrorail spokesman Tony Games.
“The line is constantly monitored to ensure it is safe to operate trains. Our drivers are aware that a speed restriction has been placed around this affected area, going through at a reduced, safe speed.”
Metrorail has, however, undertaken to invite engineering companies to assist in fixing the problem.