Northern Line (Cape Town)

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Northern Line
Overview
StatusPartially Operational
OwnerPRASA
LocaleCape Town, South Africa
Termini
Stations48
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetrorail Western Cape
Services4
Operator(s)Metrorail
Rolling stockClass 5M2
Technical
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationOverhead catenary
Route map

Cape Town
0:00
0:00
SA road N2 jct.svg
N2
Eastern Blvd
Woodstock
0:03
0:03
Esplanade
Salt River
0:07
0:09
Ysterplaat
M5 ZAF jct.svg
M5
Black River Pkwy
Koeberg Road
0:09
Maitland
0:12
Cape Flats Line &
Central Line via Pinelands
0:13
Kentemade
Woltemade
0:15
0:15
Century City
Mutual
0:17
0:18
Acacia Park
Thornton
0:20
0:21
Monte Vista
Goodwood
0:22
Vasco
0:24
0:25
De Grendel
Elsies River
0:27
0:27
Avondale
Parow
0:30
0:30
Oosterzee
Tygerberg
0:32
Bellville
0:33
0:00
Central Line
Lavistown branch
0:04
Stikland
SA road R300.svg
R300
Kuils River Fwy
Kuils River
0:06
0:08
Brackenfell
Blackheath
0:11
0:13
Eikenfontein
Melton Rose
0:15
0:16
Kraaifontein
Eerste Rivier
0:18
Fisantkraal
Faure
0:24
Mellish
Firgrove
0:30
Mikpunt
Somerset West
0:36
Klipheuwel
Van der Stel
0:39
Wintevogel
SA road N2 jct.svg
N2
Settler's Way
Kalbaskraal
Strand
0:44
Abbotsdale
Lynedoch
0:25
Malmesbury
Vlottenburg
0:29
Stellenbosch
0:35
Du Toit
0:44
Koelenhof
0:50
0:56
0:27
Muldersvlei
0:33
Klapmuts
0:42
Paarl
0:47
Huguenot
0:50
Dal Josafat
0:54
Mbekweni
0:59
Wellington
Malan
Soetendal
Hermon
Voelvlei
Gouda
Tulbaghweg
Artois
Wolesley
Romans River
Breë River
Botha
Goudini Road
Worcester

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]

Operations on the Northern Line halted in March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Operations resumed in late 2021 with trains on the relief main line past Century City and Monte Vista terminating at Kraaifontein. In early 2022, operations on the old main line through Salt River and Maitland as well as operations to Wellington resumed. In November 2023, operations to Strand resumed. As of December 2023, the route to Muldersvlei station through Stellenbosch remains the only segment of the Northern Line that has not been returned to service.

Route[edit]

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[edit]

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

Map


Operation[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Timetables". Metrorail Western Cape. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "2010 Local passenger rail routes of South Africa: Western Cape: Cape Town" (PDF). Metrorail. Retrieved 13 July 2010.