Rail passengers stuck
Around 300 angry rail commuters wanting to travel back to Johannesburg were stuck in East London on Monday as they were waiting for trains to take them home after the festive season.
Some passengers said they have been sleeping at the city’s station since Saturday but were still not able to buy tickets.
Although Shoholosa Meyl was not imemdiately available for comment on Monday, a source at the station said apart from the usual one train per day, the rail provider has laid on two extra trains on Monday to take people back to Gauteng.
“All three these trains are full,” he told the paper.
But for many, trying to get home has turned into a major ordeal:
64-year-old Nombini Sifile from Ngqamakhwe in Transkei said she had been at the station since the weekend and had been sleeping at the station since.
“I have to take my three grandchildren to school in Johannesburg and they (school) opens on Wednesday that is why we have to stay here until we get a train,” she said.
Sifile said she had no relatives in East London and would not waist money by going back to Transkei and back again.
Nisipho Godongwana from Butterworth said she and her three kids only arrived yesterday morning to find a long queue at the station.
“I do not know where are we going to sleep tonight because the way I see it we are not going to be able to buy a ticket today, let alone ride a train to Johannesburg,” said Godongwana.
For the full story, see Tuesday’s Dispatch.
1 Comment So Far
I have no doubt that these people, who are stranded in East London, are going to take pot shots and blame Metrorail or Shosholoza Meyl and not look at their own carelessness.
The truth is, some of these commuters are irresponsible. Why didn’t they purchase return tickets before leaving Johannesburg? They wouldn’t encounter problems if they had done that.
Onsite Now
-
-
