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Gauteng Metrorail has issued a statement urging commuters to find alternative means of transportation following widespread disruptions across most of its lines on Monday due to adverse weather.
The inclement weather, characterised by a cold front, has had a detrimental impact on the rail infrastructure, leading to delays and service suspensions.
In response to the disruption, Gauteng Metrorail has assured affected commuters that refunds will be facilitated at Metrorail train stations.
The organisation said that it remained committed to ensuring the safe operation of trains and apologised for any inconvenience caused.
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The extreme cold has significantly affected various components of the rail infrastructure, including tracks, crossover points and electrical cables.
Furthermore, the tension experienced by overhead wires has resulted in power instability and failures, further exacerbating the service disruptions.
Several Metrorail lines have experienced delays and suspensions. The affected routes include the Saulsville to Pretoria line, Centurion to Pretoria, Leralla to Germiston, as well as the Naledi to Johannesburg corridor.
Metrorail has announced that the Saulsville-Pretoria, Naledi-Johannesburg and Leralla-Germiston train services are currently suspended to allow the technical team to undertake repair work on the affected sections.
As a result, electricity had to be switched off on both lines in Naledi, Leralla and Saulsville to facilitate the repair process.
Extreme cold weather across the country
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) has reported a significant drop in temperatures across Gauteng due to the cold front.
According to SAWS, maximum temperatures in northern areas of Gauteng are expected to reach only 13°C, with minimum temperatures meeting the criteria for snowy conditions.
Snowfall has been observed in several areas, including Soweto, Alberton and Roodepoort.
The eastern areas of Gauteng, Heidelberg and parts of Vosloorus have particularly experienced significant snowfall, with light snow and sleet still possible over the Highveld and the Mpumalanga escarpment.
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Weather worsens electricity issues
In addition to the transportation disruptions, Gauteng is also facing challenges in electricity supply. Eskom announced that due to high demand and a slight reduction in generation capacity, Stage 4 load shedding would be implemented from 13:00 today until 05:00 on Tuesday.
Joburg’s City Power said that they have managed the high electricity demand relatively well, resulting in fewer outages across Johannesburg overnight and over the weekend.
City Power acknowledged the concerns of residents in conserving electricity during this inclement weather by heeding the call to change their behaviour and reduce usage.
It said:
However, certain areas, such as Roodepoort, Hursthill, Randburg, Bromhof, parts of Parktown and the Reuven area, continue to experience localised issues.
City Power said it had deployed additional resources to these problematic areas and would remain on high alert as adverse temperatures were expected to persist in the coming days.
Commuters are advised to stay updated on the status of Metrorail services and consider alternative transportation options until the disruptions are resolved.
