Train drivers to strike

Cosatu says Metrorail has agreed to supply buses to transport commuters from overcrowded stations to key centres. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane

Cosatu says Metrorail has agreed to supply buses to transport commuters from overcrowded stations to key centres. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane

Published Dec 11, 2010

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Metrorail trains in Gauteng East and West will not be operating this weekend because of the strike, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) said on Saturday.

“As a business we cannot afford to put any form of risk on our operation and commuters by running trains without the train control officers who are responsible for the entire operation of the train signals and the routes for the direction of trains,” provincial manager for Gauteng Metrorail Tembela Kulu said in a statement.

No trains would be running from: Johannesburg to Randfontein, Johannesburg to Vereeniging via Midway, Johannesburg to Naledi, Germiston to New Canada, New Canada to George Goch, and Pretoria to Johannesburg.

All trains in Pretoria would be operating as usual, Kulu said.

She said the strike was illegal and train control officers were in contempt of court.

Gauteng train control officers begun striking over dissatisfaction about the new shift system on Friday.

On December 3 Prasa was granted a national interim court interdict against any strike action or notice to strike against the implementation of the new shift system.

Kulu said Metrorail apologised to commuters for the “unintended” disruption and asked people to make alternative transport arrangements. - Sapa

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