Johannesburg - Train services between Pretoria and Johannesburg have been restored after they were closed due to an accident involving a heavy duty machine and a train, Metrorail said on Thursday.
“It is important to express gratitude to customers and stakeholders who remained calm when management and technical teams ensured that alternative transport is available to ferry them to various destinations across Gauteng,” said Tembela Kulu, the provincial manager of Metrorail in Gauteng.
Kulu said technical teams had already opened the first line which allowed the operation of a shuttle train service using a diesel locomotive in the affected area to enable commuters to get connecting trains.
Three people were injured when a train hit a heavy duty machine operating close to the railway line outside the Kempton Park station on Wednesday.
The machine was used to dig trenches for a fibre cable, and that pulled down the electrical power overhead beam. It fell over and onto the train.
All railway lines at Kempton Park station had been closed and the entire overhead power in the area was down. - Sapa