Heavy rain disrupts train services in Cape Town | Rhewal

The Blue Train. (Photo: The Blue Train/Facebook)

Heavy rain over parts of the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape wreaked havoc this past weekend and caused large-scale damage to infrastructure in the process.

The devastating weather conditions in these provinces seem to be over for the time being, but the South African Weather Service (SAWD) warns that it may now occur elsewhere.

Last weekend, Transnet was forced to suspend its train services in the Western Cape after “heavy rain washed away the infrastructure”.

“The track formation has been damaged in two parts on the single track line between Beaufort West and Worcester, affecting trains carrying goods, as well as the Blue Train,” Transnet said in a statement.

“After the damage was discovered late on Friday evening, passengers were informed about the extent of the damage and the impact it will have on Transnet’s operations.”

Transnet arranged overnight accommodation and flights for those traveling on the Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria.

Crews have already begun repairing roads located around the damaged infrastructure. The roads were also damaged due to the heavy rain.

“Most of the repairs to the railway line will be carried out this week,” Transnet said.

“We continue to monitor the weather conditions to ensure the safety of our crews carrying out the repairs.”

The trains are expected to be back in operation once the railway line is declared safe.

Operations in Cape Point were also brought to a standstill this past weekend due to unfavorable weather conditions in the Cape of Good Hope’s section of the Table Mountain National Park.

According to SANParks, the cable car used to transport tourists to the old lighthouse on Cape Point suffered damage. The roof of the station where the cable car normally comes to a stop partially gave way. Trees also fell on the road to Cape Point.

The management of SANParks has temporarily closed the cable car and the footpath leading to the cable car and lighthouse “for safety reasons”. The closure is in effect until further notice.

Contractors are already dismantling the roof and the supporting structure of the cable car station to determine the extent of the damage.

SANParks undertook to complete the repairs as soon as possible.

Rain moves inland

According to the weather service, the rain and thunder showers in the Cape provinces are over for the time being.

Although part of the Northern Cape and the coast in the Eastern Cape can still expect rain, these weather conditions are now occurring.

The weather service predicts that there will be isolated to scattered rain and thunder showers over the northeastern parts of the country on Monday morning.

There is a 60% chance of rain on Monday in parts of Pretoria and Johannesburg in Gauteng, Mafikeng and Klerksdorp in the North West and parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

A 30% chance of rain is predicted for the rest of these provinces, as well as part of KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Northern Cape. There is also a 30% chance of rain on the coast from East London to Port St. Johns.

The OR Tambo District Municipality has already warned motorists to be vigilant on the roads between Port St. Johns and Mthumbane, as parts of the road in this area gave way at the weekend. Along with this, landslides also cause stones to fall on the road.

Rhewal it reported earlier that three people died in the Eastern Cape due to the heavy rain. No less than ten bridges have also been built in Port St. Johns were washed away and other roads and buildings were damaged.

More than 30 rescue workers also had to Sunday teamed up to rescue a group of eight hikers who were stranded in a flooded river gorge in the Western Cape.

Morning satellite image for today 27 March 2023 showing isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers towards the north-eastern parts of the country this morning. pic.twitter.com/V21y8kUGGm

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) March 27, 2023