Northern Line (Cape Town)

Northern Line
Northern Line
Overview
Status	Partially Operational; rest defunct
Owner	PRASA
Locale	Cape Town, South Africa
Termini	Cape Town; Wellington; Muldersvlei; Strand;
Stations	48
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Metrorail Western Cape
Services	1
Operator(s)	Metrorail
Rolling stock	Class 5M2
Technical
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead catenary
Route map
	N2
	Eastern Blvd
	M5
	Black River Pkwy
	Cape Flats Line &
	Central Line via Pinelands
	0:33
	0:00
	Central Line
	Lavistown branch
	R300
	Kuils River Fwy
	N2
	Settler's Way

The Northern Line is a commuter rail service in South Africa that in the Cape Town metropolitan area and its surroundings and is operated by Metrorail Western Cape. Northern Line services operate from central Cape Town to Bellville, and then from Bellville along three different routes. The first route runs along the main Cape Town–De Aar railway line to Paarl and Wellington. The second route passes through Stellenbosch to terminate at Muldersvlei station on the main line, while the third also passes through Somerset West to terminate in Strand.[1]

Since March 2020 most of this line has not been operated. Maintenance has not been carried out and parts of the line are stolen or vandalised and not replaced. Communication by the operator is scarce, but when given often overly optimistic on its ability to return the service to its former shape. For all intends and purposes - this line was operated as a commuter service in the past - the entire portion past Bellville is defunct.

Route

Most Northern Line trains travel from Cape Town station along the old main line through Salt River, Maitland, Goodwood and Parow to Bellville station. Trains on the Wellington route continue from Bellville along the main line through Brackenfell and Kraaifontein, and then through the farmland outside the metropolitan area to reach the towns of Paarl and Wellington.[2]

Other trains branch south-east after Bellville, passing through Kuils River to Eerste River; From there, some turn north to pass through Stellenbosch and terminate at Muldersvlei station on the main line, while others continue south-east through Somerset West along the line towards Caledon. Shortly after Somerset West they branch from this line to terminate at Strand on the False Bay coast.[2]

The Northern Line also includes a service along the relief main line from Cape Town past Century City and Monte Vista to Bellville.[2]

Station listing

The Northern line serves the following stations:[1]

Cape Town
Woodstock		Esplanade
Salt River		Ysterplaat
Koeberg Road		Kentemade
Maitland		Century City
Woltemade		Akasia Park
Mutual		Monte Vista
Thornton		De Grendel
Goodwood		Avondale
Vasco		Oosterzee
Elsies River
Parow
Tygerberg
Bellville
Kuils River			Stikland
Blackheath			Brackenfell
Melton Rose			Eikefontein
Eerste River			Kraaifontein
Faure	Lynedoch		Muldersvlei
Firgrove	Vlottenburg		Klapmuts
Somerset West	Stellenbosch		Paarl
Van der Stel	Du Toit		Huguenot
Strand	Koelenhof		Dal Josafat
	Muldersvlei		Mbekweni
			Wellington

Operation

The line is made up of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) track, electrified with 3,000 V DC overhead catenary; most of the routes are at least double track, except for the Strand and Stellenbosch lines beyond Eerste River. Services are operated mostly by electric multiple units of Class 5M2.

References

"Timetables". Metrorail Western Cape. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
"2010 Local passenger rail routes of South Africa: Western Cape: Cape Town" (PDF). Metrorail. Retrieved 13 July 2010.

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[tt-1] "Timetables". Metrorail Western Cape. Retrieved 12 July 2010.

[map-2] "2010 Local passenger rail routes of South Africa: Western Cape: Cape Town" (PDF). Metrorail. Retrieved 13 July 2010.