Motorists and pedestrians who make use of the Kenilworth Road rail crossing in the next few days would do well to practice extra caution – just in case a train comes charging through without warning.
On Wednesday 1 March, around 19:15, Harfield Village resident Amy Purdon was driving across the tracks when she saw a train heading straight toward her vehicle.
“My children and I, various pedestrians, and a few other cars all happily crossed the railway line, not realising that there was a train coming towards us from the Kenilworth station side towards the Harfield station.”
Purdon says her car happened to be on the tracks when the train got close.
“Luckily, we were able to move in time.”
She says the booms did not close and the stoplights did not work.
“There was a man in a yellow reflective jacket there, but he was not very efficient, and seemed to be more concerned with chatting to pedestrians.”
The frightening experience prompted Purdon to send a query to Metrorail, asking if load shedding was the cause for the booms and lights at Kenilworth Road rail crossing not working.
“This intersection is very busy. I implore you all to assist in ensuring that the rail intersection remains powered at all times,” she wrote in an email.
When People’s Post checked with Purdon last week if she received a response to her query, she said it had been radio silence.
“Not a single reply.”
People’s Post, however, had more luck.
According to Zinobulali Mihi, Head of Department (acting): Marketing and Communications, Prasa, the level crossing of the signaling system is fully functional and is working according to the design criteria.
“Unfortunately, load shedding resulted in our battery backup system being damaged. The backup system was meant to keep it operational in the event of load shedding.”
Mihi says a process to get a service provider to repair the backup system is underway.
“As this is a supply chain process, we will await until the process is completed,” Mihi says.
“As an interim measure, when the level crossing becomes non operational due to faulty/technical conditions or load shedding, we post a crossing attendant at the level crossing to regulate traffic with the intention of avoiding potential risks such as near misses and train collisions with oncoming trains.”
