Commuters to be reimbursed train fare amid reports of expected rail strike

By Ofentse Mokae
04 May 2010

Metrorail commuters who have already bought their monthly tickets for May will be reimbursed their train fares amid plans by transport union Satawu to embark on a rail strike.

Metrorail announced yesterday that it will not sell monthly tickets as their workers planned to strike next week.

However the commuter company will put daily and weekly tickets on sale for commuters.

Meanwhile Western Cape Transport MEC Robin Carlisle yesterday called for a meeting with key players in public transport in the province to pursue ways to mitigate the impact of the imminent rail strike.

Carlisle announced that an urgent meeting with Golden Arrow Bus Services and other bus companies operating in the province will find a solution to ensure that there is reliable alternative transport for more than half a million rail commuters that will be left stranded by the strike.

“While I understand that the unions are exercising their right to strike it is unfair on commuters who depend entirely on trains for transport to bear the brunt of wage disputes or any other labour deadlock between Metrorail and SATAWU,” Carlisle said.

It is not yet certain how long the strike could last.