WATCH: Fire guts another Cape Town train

Published Jul 26, 2018

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Cape Town - Cape Town fire services are working to contain a fire at the Retreat train station where numerous carriages on a Metrorail commuter train are currently alight. 

The fire, which broke out around 10:30am, has ravaged through three train carriages and interrupted services on a number of train lines in and out of the city.

Cape Town - TRAIN FIRE: #MetroRail train alight at Retreat station pic.twitter.com/xHEDrvwdeU

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) July 26, 2018 Two fire engines, a water tanker and rescue vehicle, and 14 firefighters are on scene waiting to extinguish the flames.

According to City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue spokesperson Theo Layne, rescue services are waiting for the arrival of a Metrorail technician to isolate the electricity supply before the fire can be extinguished.

Layne said the cause of the fire had not yet been established. It's the second fire to occur on a Metrorail passenger train in recent weeks. On July 21, 11 carriages as well as railway infrastructure were destroyed after a commuter train was set alight at Cape Town station.

Meanwhile, according to Metrorail, commuters are advised to expect major delays on various routes as a result of the fire.

The following lines are currently affected:

Fire incident at Retreat impacts the #SouthernLineCT service. Trains from Cape Town to Fish Hoek will terminate at Steurhof. A train shuttle service will operate between Steenberg/Fish Hoek. Commuters are advised to make use of own alternative transport btwn Steurhof/Steenberg

— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) July 26, 2018

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Public Transport