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Angry SA passengers burn trains (South Africa)
BBC News ^

Posted on 11/10/2005 2:17:13 PM PST by reelfoot

Rail passengers angry at service delays torched at least 26 train carriages near Johannesburg on Wednesday evening. Carriages were burnt at three different locations south of the city, causing 200m rand ($30m) worth of damage.

The arson followed service delays reportedly caused by technical faults. A shortage of trains has now caused services on one route to be suspended.

It was the second time in a week that trains have been torched because of poor services.

On Tuesday, passengers burnt four coaches after service delays apparently caused by the theft of electric cables.

Trains are used by many poor working South Africans who cannot afford cars.

Thandi Mlangeni, spokewoman for rail company Metrorail, said a signal fault at Midway in southern Johannesburg had brought trains to a halt.

"Passengers started getting off the train and burning it," she said.

The disruption had a knock-on effect, leading to delays in the Kliptown and Nancefield regions of Soweto, where passengers also then began to torch trains.

Service suspended

Wednesday's arson left Metrorail with no trains to run from Midway, in southern Johannesburg, to the town of Vereeniging, Ms Mlangeni said.

Commuters have been asked to use alternative means of transport.

The Star newspaper reports that minibus taxi drivers were charging up to four times the regular fare to commuters stranded on Wednesday evening.

Metrorail trains provide an important link for commuters between central Johannesburg, Soweto, and other residential areas further south.

Each train typically carries about 1,000 passengers.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; arson; poorservice; southafrica; trains
More rot in South Africa's infrastructure.
1 posted on 11/10/2005 2:17:14 PM PST by reelfoot
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To: reelfoot
Now there, that will fix it.
2 posted on 11/10/2005 2:19:54 PM PST by Roses0508 (Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity.)
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To: reelfoot

What did the whites do now?


3 posted on 11/10/2005 2:20:17 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: reelfoot
It was the second time in a week that trains have been torched because of poor services

..anyone else see the irony here?

Doogle

4 posted on 11/10/2005 2:20:45 PM PST by Doogle (USAF...7thAF ..4077th TFW...408th MMS..Ubon Thailand.."69",,Night Line Delivery..AMMO)
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To: Doogle

My arm is sore, I think I'll chop it off...


5 posted on 11/10/2005 2:23:47 PM PST by lesser_satan
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To: reelfoot

U.S. airlines take note! It could be worse.


6 posted on 11/10/2005 2:26:40 PM PST by neodad (Rule Number 1: Be Armed)
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To: reelfoot

Is there fire in the zeitgeist these days or what?


7 posted on 11/10/2005 2:28:53 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: reelfoot
Jeez, I've been trains with piss-poor service in former soviet states and no one set fires.
8 posted on 11/10/2005 2:31:43 PM PST by varyouga (Reformed Kerry voter ( I know, I'm a frickin' idiot))
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To: reelfoot

Civilization is under duress globally.


9 posted on 11/10/2005 2:32:16 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: reelfoot

Brilliant. Then what did they all do? Walk?


10 posted on 11/10/2005 2:38:20 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: reelfoot
Trains are used by many poor working South Africans who cannot afford cars.

Not anymore, I guess. I hope they can afford these.


11 posted on 11/10/2005 2:44:15 PM PST by SIDENET ("IT'S A COOKBOOK!!!")
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To: reelfoot

There is always a class of people who think destruction is the uplifting solution. They would make good Democrats.


12 posted on 11/10/2005 2:48:22 PM PST by Lion Den Dan
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To: reelfoot

At least they weren't youths.


13 posted on 11/10/2005 2:49:19 PM PST by Jim Noble (Non, je ne regrette rien)
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To: reelfoot

How soon before they blame apartheid?


14 posted on 11/10/2005 2:51:39 PM PST by junta (It's Jihad stupid!)
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To: reelfoot

> More rot in South Africa's infrastructure.

I didn't see any mention of the 'religious' leanings of the 'burners.' Or, as the MSM says, the alledged 'burners.'

Oops, I forgot the Sarcasm tag - warning, may not be sutiable for dinner conversation.

TL


15 posted on 11/10/2005 3:12:49 PM PST by Tomato lover
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To: Tomato lover
I didn't see any mention of the 'religious' leanings of the 'burners.' Or, as the MSM says, the alledged 'burners.'

They're most likely Protestant Christians.

16 posted on 11/11/2005 9:21:56 PM PST by zimdog
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