Metrorail has withdrawn its train service between Malmesbury and Cape Town, in what the Western Cape government has dubbed a "major setback".
Metrorail said the withdrawal of diesel trains and train crew from the service is due to "challenges" with a service provider supplying diesel locomotives for the line. The move comes into effect on Monday and will see the cessation of the peak-hour service.
"Since Metrorail only operates electrical diesel locomotives, the business has been depending on a service provider that provides diesel locomotives to [complement] the Malmesbury service. Currently, Prasa (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) is negotiating with the service provider to seek ways to resolve the challenge," said Metrorail.
Western Cape Mobility MEC Daylin Mitchell said the withdrawal of the service was "undermining the ability of commuters to travel to economic opportunities".
"Just a few days ago we heard the National Minister of Transport saying we are well on track to deliver a rail system that is efficient, affordable, safe and reliable – that the infrastructure upgrades and the deployment of new rolling stock would enable us to make commuter rail responsive to the needs of the vast majority of our people. Yet we compromise on the needs of our people of Malmesbury," he said.
Mitchell said each day without a train service cost the province "millions in missed opportunities".
He added that plans were in place to fill the gap temporarily by providing additional buses on the route.