Simons Town line closed

[allanroy]

Its the end of May and work on the line has not even started yet.

[Christopher King]

As a kid I can remebre the line being closed for a day during heavy seas. A driver Mr Frankel of simonstown told me that as a train went passed and a wave hit the rockcs it would short out the overhead power. It was 3oo volts at that stage.

[Luca Lategan]

Revamp of line soon completed
The railway line between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town will be going on track ater the Soccer World Cup.

The coastal engineers estimated that it would have been completed last month based on their original scoping report. A tender has been awarded to a team of environmental consultants to make sure the construction complies with the environmental and heritage requirements. Many factors such as the strike of Metrorail and Transnet delayed the rehabilitation process between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town. Transnet's strike had a major impact on the rehabilitation process as management of Metrorail had to negotiate with them to transport the rock required for the revetment from Somerset West.

[allanroy]

According to our local newspaper, Metrorail is now saying it does not know why the public was told that repairs would be completed by the end of May as nothing had been approved yet. Then it said it would start at the end of the soccer world cup, now it saying it the budget has still not been approved when on the 14 April it had been.

When asked when the work will be completed I quote
" We are unfortunately not in a position to give you a firm date for work to get under way"

[Dylan Knott]

Well if approval is only likely to be in 3 months time and repairs will take 12 weeks then the line should reopen around February 2011. Overhead wires will also require attention after standing out of use for so long. I am surprised they are bothering at all.

[allanroy]

Mr Louis Beukes, Senior Manager, Infrastructure, Metrorail Western Cape spoke at the Simon's Town Civic Association meeting and assured Simon’s Town that the Cape Town to Simon’s Town line was one of Metrorail’s top priority lines. He said repairs to the line would commence in the next two weeks once the tender contract has been signed. The repairs should take 3 months depending on weather and rock availability. Rocks will be railed in from Somerset West – 10 rail trucks per day, and work will only take place between sunrise and sunset. The whole job is budgeted at R29 million.

[Dylan Knott]

How are they going to rail anything from Somerset West? The goodsyard closed 20 years ago and the track needs to be reconnected!

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Maybe they do not know?!!!!

[Luca Lategan]

Eersterivier!

[Dylan Knott]

Thanks, yes Luca I think you are correct here. Hopefully they reconnect the siding there as well!
Yesterday saw two freights cross at S.West!!!

[Luca Lategan]

Joh! When last did that happen?

[allanroy]

AT LAST!!!!!!!!

The construction teams are now on site and the repair work has begun, which should last 4 months now.

See this website where there are pictures of what the track looks like now and the info from Prasa

http://www.southernrighthotel.com/index ... Itemid=161

[John Ashworth]

Today, contractors started on repairing the Simonstown line, some 9 months after sea-damage shut it down

[allanroy]

Metrorail rail announced in our local paper today that the Simons Town line is due to open to trains in early February, and all repair work should be completed by the end of march.

[allanroy]

Took these photos last week, crane was lifting some precast concrete sections into place.