Transnet suspends operations of the Blue Train from Monday

Transnet says the operations of the luxury Blue Train will be suspended from Monday after what it calls recent “unfortunate incidents.”

The suspension is until further notice.

Transnet last week said it was investigating the cause of a fire which broke out in a Blue Train coach.

The coach was at the company’s engineering facility in Koedoespoort for repairs.

Transnet says three people were seen fleeing the scene.

Transnet security personnel apprehended and handed one person to the police.

Two others are still at large.

The coach was taken to Koedoespoort for repairs after being involved in a derailment last November.

Train stations

Meanwhile last month, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said work to restore some train stations in the Western Cape has cost taxpayers about R60 million so far.

Mbalula said the stations which have been vandalised during the COVID-19 lockdown are expected to be operational again in the first week of March.

The mammoth task of fixing the rail system in the Western Cape will cost the government billions of rand.

Rail infrastructure has been destroyed in what Mbalula calls wholesale theft and vandalism.

He said buildings and signal infrastructure has been left in ruin as a result of corrupt and incompetent managers.

VIDEO: Minister Mbalula addresses the media and Prasa representatives on the rehabilitation of rail infrastructure in the Western Cape: