Delays and cancellations plague Cape Town’s Southern Line commuters

A Metrorail train on Cape Town’s Southern Line. Commuters say recent delays and cancellations are causing growing frustration. Concerns are emerging over the reliability of Cape Town’s Southern Line, with commuters reporting growing delays and cancellations despite broader efforts to restore passenger rail services across the metro.

The complaints surface as political leaders continue to welcome progress on other parts of the network, including the recent reopening of the Kapteinsklip corridor in Mitchells Plain, describing rail as central to reducing congestion and lowering transport costs. Regular Southern Line passengers say that while new trains initially improved services, reliability has become inconsistent in recent months, with extended gaps between trains and limited advance communication when disruptions occur. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa(PRASA) Western Cape spokesperson Zinobulali Mihi said the agency was aware of concerns regarding the Southern Line.

“PRASA Western Cape acknowledges the challenges currently affecting the Southern Line and is actively monitoring service performance. We understand the impact on our commuters and take these matters seriously,” Mihi said. She said service interruptions were largely due to ongoing maintenance and upgrade works on infrastructure, as well as operational constraints.

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Unforeseen technical issues occasionally exacerbated delays. A damaged side mirror on a Metrorail train along Cape Town’s Southern Line, as commuters raise concerns about maintenance and reliability. “All reports of unrepaired or damaged train components, including shuttered windows, are addressed by our maintenance teams.

Continuous inspections and corrective actions are in place to ensure safety and comfort for commuters,” Mihi said. Despite these assurances, commuters describe increasing unpredictability during peak periods. A Woodstock resident who travels on the Southern Line up to four times a week said there had been “constant delays and cancellations” over the past few months.

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