Central Line (Cape Town)

     Central Line
Overview
Type Commuter rail
System Metrorail Western Cape
Status Operational
Locale Cape Town, South Africa
Termini Cape Town
Kapteinsklip
Chris Hani
Bellville
Stations 33
Services 3
Operation
Owner PRASA
Operator(s) Metrorail
Rolling stock Class 5M2, Class 8M
Technical
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge
Electrification Overhead catenary

The Central Line is a commuter rail service in Cape Town, South Africa operated by Metrorail Western Cape. Central Line services operate along two routes from central Cape Town to Langa, and then along three branches from Langa to various areas in the south-east of the city. The first branch runs to Mitchell's Plain, the second to Khayelitsha, and the third passes through Belhar to terminate in Bellville.[1]

Contents

Route

Central Line trains depart from Cape Town station on one of two routes. The first route runs along the original Cape Town–Bellville main line through Salt River to Maitland, and then branches south to pass around the western and southern edge of Pinelands to Langa station. The other route runs along the relief main line past Paarden Eiland and then branches south through Kensington to Mutual station; from Mutual it runs along the eastern edge of Pinelands to Langa.[2]

From Langa station all trains pass through Bonteheuwel station; some continue east through Bishop Lavis and Belhar, passing the University of the Western Cape before turning north and then west to terminate at Bellville. Other trains branch south after Bonteheuwel, passing Manenberg and Gugulethu to Philippi station. From Philippi, one branch passes south through Mitchell's Plain to terminate at Kapteinsklip station, while the other passes south-east through Khayelitsha to terminate at Chris Hani station.[2] This line was recently extended from Khayelitsha station to two new stations serving eastern areas of Khayelitsha.[3]

Most trains to Mitchell's Plain use the Salt River route from Cape Town to Langa, while most trains to Bellville or Khayelitsha use the Mutual route, but there are some exceptions.[1]

Station listing

The Central Line serves the following stations:[1]

Cape Town
Woodstock Esplanade
Salt River Paarden Eiland
Koeberg Road Ysterplaat
Maitland Mutual
Ndabeni
Pinelands
Langa
Bonteheuwel
Netreg Lavistown
Heideveld Belhar
Nyanga Unibell
Philippi Pentech
Lentegeur Stock Road Sarepta
Mitchell's Plain Mandalay Bellville
Kapteinsklip Nolungile
Nonkqubela
Khayelitsha
Kuyasa
Chris Hani

Operation

The line is made up of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge track, electrified with 3,000 V DC overhead catenary; all parts of the line are at least double track. Services are operated mostly by electric multiple units of Class 5M2 and (on the Khayelitsha line) Class 8M.

References