A train fire was reported at the Koeberg train station in Maitland at 10.05am on Tuesday morning. Although no injuries were reported, two train carriages were set alight. Bringing to total 7 trains that have been set alight in a few months.
“We are currently dealing with two railway carriages that are alight. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage‚” said Theo Layne, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson.
Two fire engines were deployed to fight the fire, as well as one water tanker and one rescue vehicle. Fourteen firefighters are on the scene trying to douse the flames.
The train went up in flames less than a few hundred metres away from where Transport Minister, Blade Nzimande, addressed reporters less than two weeks ago. He was speaking to the media on the barrage of arson attacks targeting the Cape’s trains.
A total of 150 carriages have been out of service since 2015 as a result of train fires, and less than 50 functioning train sets now work to transport Cape Town’s commuters in and out of the city.
A minimum of 88 train sets are required to allow Metrorail to operate efficiently.
Picture: Supplied