Fans of Metrorail will be chuffed to know that the service has resumed its Naledi line with new electric trains.
Metrorail, the rail network operator, announced yesterday the resumption of the Naledi line, which takes passengers from Johannesburg to Soweto.
Lillian Mofokeng, the Metrorail spokesperson, confirmed the resumption while also expressing her excitement about it all. She confirmed that the resumption of the train service between Naledi and Johannesburg was a big success.
Going into some detail, she noted that the resumption had the station thronged. About 1500 people were on the first train, big numbers indeed.
Park Station was packed as masses of Joburg residents and workers were excited to get onto the trains. Absolutely amazing. Johannesburg's glory shall return once step at a time. Thank you @PRASA_Group. 🔥🔥🔥🔥✊ pic.twitter.com/HS4ImXGTxf
— Toko Masemola (@TokoMasemola) November 29, 2022
The transport minister, Fikile Mbalula, who has often been criticized for his “lackadaisical” attitude to his job, was just as excited about the resumption of the line. With the resumption, he noted that Soweto can wake up and take a train to Johannesburg again tomorrow morning
Metrorail uses the new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU). Which has been described as part of efforts at infrastructure renewal in South Africa.
Videos on social media confirmed that, true to what the spokesperson had said, the train was pretty packed and commuters appear excited about the resumption.
It remains to be seen how far the EMU will go and the public will go along with it.
