The majority of Johannesburg Park Station platforms will be completely closed with limited train services between 16 November and 16 December.
“A signalling occupation will be taken during this period and trains will be authorised for safe movement,” Gauteng Metrorail said.
The work that will be done is part of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa)’s modernisation programme aimed at rolling out new modernised railway infrastructure for a safer, faster, smoother and world class train service with improved travelling times.
“The essential work will involve the final testing and commissioning of the newly installed electronic signalling system in the Park Station complex.
“Re-signalling of Johannesburg station will require a period of transition from the old system to the new electronic interlocking system operated by Siemens Computer Aided Signalling system (Sicas),” Gauteng Metrorail said.
The entity has been allocated R3.7 billion to roll out the implementation of the signalling programme in phases. The programme is expected to be concluded in 2020, with 92 stations in total controlled over the system.
“This occupation will have a major impact on the provision of a normal train service. Out of the 16 operational platforms currently in use, only five platforms will be operational,” Gauteng Metrorail said.
All commuters have been advised to adhere to service announcements made at stations during this period to be familiar with the revised train timetable.
The platforms will be operation as follows:
- Trains will turn at stations other than Johannesburg Park Station,
- Trains Germiston / George Gogh to Johannesburg (from eastern side) will turn at Braamfontein and Mayfair,
- Trains Langlaagte to Johannesburg (from western side) will turn at George Goch and Benrose platform, depending on the traffic of trains at the time,
- All Metro trains will be allowed into platform three, five, seven and nine.
- Platforms 3 and 5 will be occupied by “Germiston / George Gogh to Johannesburg” trains,
- Platforms 7 and 9 will be occupied by “Langlaagte to Johannesburg” trains,
- Platform 16 will be occupied by Main Line Passenger trains which will arrive and depart through Braamfontein north yard. – SAnews.gov.za
