Gautrain: Pax stuck on board for over an hour near Centurion

[Steve Appleton]

From Radio 702 Eyewitness News, 30 August 2011.
http://www.ewn.co.za/Story.aspx?Id=73066
Although this story gives the delay at about 1 hour, I heard a pax on air claim that she had been delayed for nearly 4 hours.

Commuters angry after Gautrain glitch
Mandy Wiener, 20 Hour(s) ago

Gautrain officials on Tuesday confirmed that a technical problem was reported on one of its trains on the line between Pretoria and Johannesburg. The train was left standing on the tracks for around an hour near the Centurion Station, with several passengers on board.

Commuters said some people missed flights and meetings as a result of the delay. “There was no power, no open widows and no air conditioning. We were stuck in there,” said one disgruntled traveller.

A second train was sent to help passengers after an hour.

Gautrain's Errol Braithwaite said a problem was caused by an electrical pick-up and overhead electrical cable.

[Steve Appleton]

Passengers dispute the delay time:

Weszmadz: First off All we were not there for any hour. That's a lie. We Were stuck for two hrs before Midrand station. We left Centuion at abt 12h40 and got to the airport at 15h35! do the math. When we got to ORTIA the gates wouldn't let us out cause we had boarded the train 3hrs before and the security couldn't let us out. My flight was at 16h00!

They tried opening the windows but we were sweating. They are no toilets on the train. Another train was sent to tow us to Midrand. When it got to Midrand it got stuck on the rail as well.. We waited 30Min for the next train to Marlborough and then we waited for abt 7min for a train to ORTIA. When we were stuck 3 trains passed onto Pretoria and one went to Midrand, at Midrand three trains went Pretoria way while we waited. Yes people missed domestic and international flights.

Guest: I was on that train (Train 2) too and we didn't wait a whole 2 hours. It was about an hour as they said... My train left Hatfield Station at 14:10. I sent an sms to my boyfriend at 14:32 saying that out train has broken down outside Midrand. I sent him another sms at 15:30 saying our train is being pulled into the station by another train.

The next train came through 7 or 10 minutes later to take us to Molboro Station, from there it was smooth sailing towards Sandton station.

The only other issue was getting out of Sandton Station with our cards, saying we didn’t have enough funds on (I know I had enough) but the staff was quick in helping us out.

No one was very happy about the delay, especially the people missing meetings and flights. Unfortunately these things happen and hoping it doesn’t happen again. I love the Gautrain. So hopefully they learn to be thorough in their check-ups (if that was the issue), as lots of people will just go back to private car use. I heard a few people on the train saying they will never go by train again. Some people phoning threatening to sue. Eish. So yea. Come now Gautrain, do not disappoint again..