Metrorail not [really] the bad guy

I have been following the closure of Gouda station like a hawk and those saying Metrorail deliberately made Worcester train not stop at Gouda station is misleading.

The fact is that the Railway Safety Regulator issued PRASA with a Prohibition Directive to suspend station operations at Gouda Station. The most important thing of this closure is that it comes after a complaint by a member of the public was lodged. This shows the power we as commuters do indeed hold.

Metrorail Western Cape received information of the directive less than 60 minutes before that train had to depart Cape Town station. 

I am personally aware that arrangements were made late that evening to ensure that buses and staff be available at the affected station. My concern that buses not move from Gouda to Wellington – as initially communicated – but still stop at the four stations in between was also addressed and implemented the next morning.

 

Prasa has meanwhile reacted stating that work at the station will start in January 2016. 

Now with the recently released Public Protector “Derailed” report on Prasa one should be relieved that there is money in the current financial year to make the improvements. Apart from the health hazard, our concern should be the four/five buses currently used to transport the ± 200 commuters between Gouda and Wellington - that must still stop at the four stations in between.

I reckon Metrorail is unable to sustain the operating of these buses until upgrades at Gouda station is completed in (for arguments sake) April/May 2016. Important to note Metrorail already has a limited number of buses available, plus there is a similar situation playing itself out on the Southern Line, although the effect is much lesser on those commuters.

Monday 7 September buses had to go from Gouda to Vlottenberg/Stellebosch because of the technical problem there and I know Metrorail tried their very best to get it there as soon as possible. But let's face the reality Metrorail will not always be able to recover the service within two hours, as was the case on 7 September.

So how did the RSR get to their decision and why are commuters from Gouda not informed? Well the Railway Safety Inspectors did an inspection on 26 April 2013. As a result of the inspection, an Improvement Directive was issued. The investigation highlighted that:

• The height of the passenger platform in use on the eastern side of Gouda station does not conform to the prescribed passenger platform specifications.
• There are no shelters and ablution facilities to cater for commuters on the passenger/commuter platform.
• Platform surface is in a very poor condition and has big hole which poses a hazard to commuters.
• Fence around the station is in a poor condition and that makes the station vulnerable to people accessing the station without authority or/and valid tickets (trespassers).
• Platform was very dark due to insufficient lighting at the station.

PRASA’s response was that Gouda Station was a Transnet Freight Rail owned station and leased to PRASA and therefore they can do very little to address the threats. According to their agreement Gouda Station is solely used by commuters. 

Although PRASA lease the station, it is PRASA's responsibility to implement and adhere to all safety laws, codes, standards and regulations to ensure safe railway operations.

It is indeed true that Prasa has done very little to address the issues highlighted and therefor the directive was given and is effective immediately. 

The directive will only be revoked when PRASA has satisfactorily demonstrated to the RSR that the immediate threats no longer exist.

In my opinion the Railway Safety Regulator was not fair towards Metrorail – who now looks like the bad guys. Even if Metrorail Western Cape received that directive earlier it would still not be enough notice period to say a station should close. It also raises another thing: when the RSR said immediate effect, what exactly was meant, as this gave Metrorail no time to communicate to commuters.