Herron concerned by train fires

Brett Herron.
Metrorail service is running an hour late today after three trains caught fire across the city on Friday September 28.

The fires were at the Cape Town station, Firgrove and Mbekweni in Paarl.

No injuries were reported in all incidents.

Mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, Brett Herron, has expressed concerns over train fires.

“I call on the South African Police Service to investigate this incident as a matter of urgency. Our commuter rail system is under relentless attack, and it is our most vulnerable citizens who are the worst affected by the declining rail service. This has a huge impact on our local economy and also affects other Capetonians,” said Mr Herron.

He also voiced his suspicions on what may be behind the train fires.

“I have said before that there appears to be a well-orchestrated and sinister force at work to destroy our very fragile but essential rail service. A total collapse of our Metrorail service is a prospect too ghastly to contemplate.”

Mr Herron also called on Minister of Transport Dr Blade Nzimande to take immediate action to address the situation. 

Over the past three years the city has lost more than 140 carriages to arson.