This comes after one person died and 102 others were injured when two trains collided in Elandsfontein‚ east of Johannesburg‚ on Thursday morning.
“The RSR’s preliminary investigation into this occurrence revealed that there was cable theft in the night before‚ which affected the track units circuits and signals in the section between Isando and Elandsfontein. This necessitated abnormal working conditions. The preliminary investigation further reveal that the two trains were authorised into the section at the same time‚ thus indicated poor management and unsafe execution of the manual authorisation process‚” said the regulator.
[pullquote]“We are investigating the reasons he was on board a train that was not in service‚” Gauteng Metrorail acting provincial manager Goodman Matampi said.[/pullquote]
This was not the first time this had occurred.
“The operator is therefore‚ directed to immediately cease operating trains in the Prasa Gauteng region under abnormal working conditions‚” the RSR said.
It said trains would run again when normal operating conditions have been restored.
Should Prasa not to adhere to this order‚ it could be criminally charged and be imposed with a penalty.
On Thursday‚ Metrorail said the man who was killed was on board a train which had been thought to be empty. Initial reports had suggested that he was a train driver.
“We are investigating the reasons he was on board a train that was not in service‚” Gauteng Metrorail acting provincial manager Goodman Matampi said.
