MyLine

ISSUE THREE 28 March – 3 April 2013

Heita

Do you have any comments or complaints about Metrorail’s train service?

Have this info ready when you call our customer-servic e helpline (0800 65 64 63): your line, station, train and carriage numbers, and tim e.

It’ll help us to channel you r comment or complaint to the right people for action .

YOUR FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FROM METRORAIL

We hear you!

Problem solved Here’s how Metrorail responds to train delays and cancellations.

PROBLEM Ageing rollingstock failures

ADD METRORAIL

SOLUTION

New carriages are currently being built to replace Metrorail’s ageing rolling stock. The 3 600 new carriages will be ready between 2015 and 2025.

ON MXIT Add Go Metro for train times, announcements, updates and information on your cellphone.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK Search for the Cape Metrorail page on Facebook to find all our information and receive instant updates.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Search for @CapeTownTrains to follow us on Twitter and discover all the latest news and instant updates.

W Weather

PROBLEM Signal system and railwaytrack failures Above Train delays may be caused by commuters who travel illegally between carriages and trample on the brake cables.

Not knowing why a train has been delayed or cancelled can be extremely frustrating for commuters – often more than the delay itself. MyLine goes behind the scenes in search of answers.

TEXT: ALICIA ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY IMAGE

T

rain delays. Nobody likes them.

They are inconvenient, disruptive and frustrating, no matter what the time of day. While more Metrorail trains are on time than delayed or cancelled each week, this fact is not always comforting to commuters who are stranded on platforms or aboard trains that have stopped between stations. “Why doesn’t Metrorail do something about it?” ask commuters. “What takes the company so long to fix problems on the lines?

They’ve been doing it for so long. Surely they should be able to fix issues sooner?”

MyLine put the same questions to Jacques Carstens (Assistant Manager:

Train Operations Support, Metrorail Western Cape). “Train delays and cancellations are caused by various reasons,” he explains. “And responding to them is not always as simple as commuters might think. Imagine operating a train that stops unexpectedly between stations. The driver is doing everything by the book, but can’t find anything wrong with the operating controls. After much time has lapsed, they discover that people are travelling illegally between coaches and have trampled on the brake cables.

This has caused the train to lose speed and eventually stop. The driver has to follow all the processes to secure the train and ensure the safety of commuters. In the end, the irresponsible action of one person causes a delay that affects 700 to 800 people.”

SOLUTION

Metrorail has 19 dedicated technical teams who are experts in rail maintenance.

During peak hours, mobile technical-response teams are posted in areas to respond to incidents immediately.

PROBLEM Vandalism and cable theft

SOLUTION

Metrorail has 1 000 contracted security officers, 459 permanent protection-services staff and 273 emergency security personnel to ensure its assets and commuters are secure. We also have strong partnerships with the South African Police Services’ railway unit.

SIPHO SAYS...

Fun, fish and family Can you believe it’s almost April and we’re already on our third issue of MyLine? It’s true what they say: time really does fly when you’re having fun. Talking about fun, I’m so ready to have lots of it this weekend.

I just saw my cousins off at Cape Town station. They caught the extra Shosholoza Meyl train to East London.

I need to do my last-minute shopping at Nyanga Junction on my way home: charcoal for my fish braai with the guys, hot-cross buns to take to my wife’s Aunt Cheryl tomorrow (she makes the best pickle fish in town), and Easter eggs for the kids.

Mense, I’m planning to do #anythingbutwork this weekend.

I’m taking my son to the Metropolitan

U19 Premier Cup tournament. We’re catching the train to Unibell station so I don’t have to worry about traffic or parking. We can just enjoy the ride.

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Ubumnandi, Intlanzi noSapho Ndisando kudibana nabazala bam esitishini eKapa. Bazakuba nohambo ngo Shosholoza Meyl oya eMonti. Endleni yam egodukayo, kufuneka ndithenge iintwana ntwana zomzuzu wokugqibela kwisitishi saseNyanga; ezo ke iyakuba ngamalalhe okulungiselela ibraai yam yentlanzi namajita am, iibhanisi zikamakazi wenkosikazi yam uCheryl (wenza eyona ntlanzi yakhe yamnandi apha), kunye nee Easter eggs zabantwana.

It’s Easter and that means pickle fish and hot-cross buns on the table of almost every household across the Western Cape. Make sure yours is among the best with this recipe.

Comment on my Facebook page, talk to me on Twitter (@Sipho_MyLine or #MyLine) or send an email to sipho@mikatekomedia.co.za.

[Consumer advice]

Money talks

1. Close the tap while

6. Install a Hippo bag

2. Close the tap when you’re

7. Fix toilet leaks and

you’re cleaning your teeth. It will save up to 20 litres of water per month.

That’s up to R10.61. shaving. It will save up to 45 litres per month. That’s up to R19.40.

3. Shower rather than bath.

A half-full bath uses an average of 160 litres of water while a five-minute shower uses 56 litres. If showering’s not an option, run a smaller bath or share your tub.

Here’s how to save up to

INGREDIENTS Serves 6

R501

a month

on your water bill.

(see right) into your loo’s cistern. You could save up to 7 300 litres of water each year. dripping taps. They can waste up to 30 litres of water a day – that’s up to 10 000 litres a year. You could save up to R471 a month.

TIP Make your own Hippo bag by putting a two-litre plastic bottle full of water in your loo’s cistern.

and cutlery under running water.

1.5 cups water 1 cup brown vinegar About 1.5 cups sugar 1 packet pickle-fish mix 2 tsp curry, heaped 1.5 tsps garam masala Curry leaves, to taste ¼ cup fish oil 1 tsp turmeric (borrie) 6 big onions, cut into rings 1 medium-size yellowtail or hake, cut into pieces 6 hot-cross buns

 Boil the water, then add vinegar and sugar until the sweet-and-sour combination is to your liking. Pour in a big jug.  Add pickle-fish mix, curry, garam masala, curry leaves, oil and turmeric.

to wash your car. Rather use two buckets of water.

You can save up to 300 litres of water each time.

 Fry onions until soft.  Add curry mixture and allow to simmer until cooked through (about five minutes). Turn off the heat.

4. Make sure your washing 5. Avoid rinsing glasses

• • • • • • • • • • • •

METHOD

8. Avoid using a hosepipe

machine and dishwasher are fully loaded.

days,1 yellowtail

 Bake yellowtail in flour-and-egg batter.

This is how much the average household pays for sanitation and water per kilolitre (kl), excluding VAT.

0 to 6kl 6 to 10.5kl 10.5 to 20kl 20 to 35kl 35 to 50kl >50kl

 Add fish to the hot-curry mix. Add more water until the fish is covered. Check taste after adding water.

R0 R5.83 R10.60 R15.70 R19.40 R25.58

 Take off the stove and allow to cool.  Once cool, it’s ready to go into that special Pyrex pickle-fish bowl you only use once a year for special occasions.  Enjoy with hot-cross buns over the entire Easter weekend.

Cellphone manners

Do you get annoyed when you want to read and the person sitting next to you on the train is yakking on their cellphone? Show them these tips.

1 2 Speak softly.

It’s a cellphone, not a public phone; there’s no need to shout.

Your ringtone shouldn’t blast everyone out next to you, so put your phone on silent or vibrate.

3

Avoid talking about personal problems in a public space.

Nobody cares.

4

Don’t SMS during church or mosque, a lecture, a meeting or at the dinner table.

5 6 Don’t make calls in the bank, lift, movies or library.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Criminals may snatch your phone if you’re not paying attention.

Breathe easy We all experience pressure at one time or another.

Taking a few deep breaths may not solve your problems, but doing so can help you relax under pressure. Try these six easy steps.

1. Place one hand on your stomach

and the other on your upper chest.

2. Close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale.

3. Which hand moved the most: the bottom or the top? Upper-chest breathing is associated with stress, so sit or lie somewhere comfortable.

4. Put your hands on your belly and breathe through your nose, picturing a balloon where your stomach is.

5. Inhale, feel the “balloon” inflate, then let it go.

6. Repeat this for five minutes.

SIGNS OF STRESS • • • • • • • •

Life goes on

Losing a loved one is never easy. Those who experience loss are likely to grieve for quite a while. Here’s how it can affect their work and home life.

Problems concentrating • Difficulty making decisions • Disinterest in a job or family-related details • Frustration • Irritability • Tension • Depression and mood swings • Marital and family problems YOU CAN HELP FRIENDS AND FAMILY DEAL WITH GRIEF. 1. Let them know you empathise with their loss, either in person or in writing.

2. Respect the grieving person’s desire for privacy.

3. Offer support by listening if they want to talk.

4. Avoid saying things like, “It was God’s will” or “I know how you feel”.

5. Avoid judgments of any kind.

6. Refer them to a qualified counsellor.

Get promoted Here’s how you can impress your boss.

1. Demonstrate a strong capacity for growth.

You must be able to evolve your thinking and expand your skill set.

2. Adopt an attractive attitude.

We’ve heard it said many times that attitude is everything. It is!

3. Have the courage to think big and take risks.

Think and act in ways that are natural to you.

4. Earn trust.

Build relationships, communicate well, have the right qualifications, handle conflict well and be tactful.

Likeability doesn’t always build trust by itself.

5. Be loyal at all costs.

Loyalty is a powerful quality that measures your character in an instant.

SOURCE: WWW.FORBES.COM

Feeling anxious, irritable or depressed Apathy and loss of interest in work Problems sleeping Fatigue Trouble concentrating Muscle tension and headaches Stomach problems Using alcohol or drugs to cope

HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS

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1. Try to find a balance between work, family life, downtime and daily responsibilities.

2. Don’t overcommit yourself.

Avoid making back-toback appointments.

3. Try to leave earlier for work.

Even 10 to 15 minutes can make a difference.

4. Make a list of your tasks and tackle them in order of importance.

5. Try to get away from your desk or workstation for lunch.

60

20

80 100

0

EYE on

the ball

Follow in fly-half Elton Jantjies’ booted footsteps by improving your rugby game.

1. STICK TO A POSITION Don’t swop all the time.

You’ll struggle to land a spot on a good team otherwise.

2. STAY FOCUSED Don’t be a hero: keep to your position’s role on the field.

3. TOUGHEN UP Practise your tackling and commit to an exercise routine.

4. WATCH AND LEARN Follow professional rugby and your favourite teams. You’ll learn some great techniques.

5. EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE If you’re a back, focus on your sprint training or boost your strength if you’re a forward.

6. HAVE FUN Enjoy the game and bond with your teammates.

7. DON’T SKIP PRACTICE You’ll build a great relationship with your coach and become an all-star rugby player.

FA

MEET ELTON CT FILE JA DHL STORME NTJIES, ONE OF THE RS’ NEWEST ST ARS. Born 1 Augus t 19

90 Height 1.76 m Weight 84kg 2010 Played for South Afric a U20 2012 First ap pearance with the Springboks against Austral ia at Loftus Ver sfeld

3

29 MARCH – 4 APRIL 2013

Y

(AM + PM)

NORTH: CAPE TOWN – MONTE VISTA – BELLVILLE – WELLINGTON – STELLENBOSCH – STRAND Maitland – Bellville

09:00 – 14:00

Platform changes will be announced.

Train delays of 15 to 20 minutes can be expected.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Maitland – Bellville

09:00 – 14:00

Platform changes will be announced.

Train delays of 15 to 20 minutes can be expected.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Maitland – Bellville

09:00 – 14:00

Platform changes will be announced.

Train delays of 15 to 20 minutes can be expected.

CANCELLED (AM + PM)

Tuesday 2 April 2013

222 212 0%

ERS

PM ON TIME

MATT

SOUTH: CAPE TOWN – SIMON’S TOWN AND CAPE FLATS PM ON TIME 225 AM ON TIME 234 CANCELLED 1.4%

AM ON TIME

SAFET

WEEKLY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

CENTRAL: CAPE TOWN – KAPTEINSKLIP – KHAYELITSHA – CHRIS HANI – SAREPTA CANCELLED 195 PM ON TIME 237 2.1%

AM ON TIME

(AM + PM)

While we try our utmost to do maintenance during off-peak times to minimise possible delays, connecting trains may be subject to delays on all service lines. Your safety is our concern – we apologise for any inconvenience inadvertently caused. Performance reflects week of 14 to 20 March.

Help is on the way Get home safely

When a train stands still between stations for long periods of time, often commuters’ first reaction is to jump off and make their way to the nearest station. But, as Zithobile Fusa (Regional Security Manager: Metrorail Western Cape) explains, this isn’t the safe option. Here’s why.

Avoid getting into empty carriages alone to avoid opportunistic crime.

Trains don’t have ladders or steps.

When a train is full, especially during delays, rather wait for the next one.

If you hang outside the door, you may lose your grip and sustain fatal injuries.

You can break a leg or sustain other injuries if you jump off.

Stay behind the yellow line when a train pulls up to or leaves the platform. Commuters often huddle together and press forward. When this happens, you may easily slip and fall onto or under an oncoming train.

You may have to walk long distances to get to the nearest station.

This can leave you vulnerable to criminals in the area.

Safety in numbers

Chances are that your train isn’t the only one on the line.

You may end up jumping in front of an oncoming train.

Should you be stranded between stations, the best things to do are:

1

You may be electrocuted.

Stay put until protection services arrive on the scene.

2

3 4

Stick together in big groups.

Hide valuable items like jewellery, bags and cellphones.

Call the Metrorail Protection Services helpline on 021 449 5056.

PUBLISHED ON BEHALF OF METRORAIL

by Mikateko Media, 19 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001; PO Box 872, Green Point, 8051 Phone 021 417 1111

4

At times, there are up to 3 000 volts of electricity running through the tracks.

BEHIND THE SCENES What does Metrorail do when there are technical problems on trains?

DISCLAIMER Published by Mikateko Media (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.

While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, neither the editor, publisher nor Mikateko Media can be held liable for any inaccuracies, injury or damages that may arise.

All drivers have received training, which enables them to perform basic maintenance tasks.

After informing the operations manager of the incident, the driver tries to identify causes for the delay so the problem can be fixed immediately.

Should the train drivers be unable to do this, they call the relevant managers who will give them expert advice to fix the problem.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Only Metrorail commuters with valid weekly and/or monthly train tickets are eligible for prizes.

The winners will be the first correct entries drawn after the closing date – 1 April 2013. Winners will be announced in issue four (4 April 2013) of MyLine. In the event of the judges not being able to contact the selected winner using the details supplied, an alternative winner will be selected. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The prize is not transferable and may not be converted into cash. Employees of Mikateko Media, their families, agencies or any other parties associated with the competition may not enter. All details are correct at time of going to print. Entry is limited to South African residents over the age of 18.

TWGEBEUT TWORK

#ANYTHIN

r Cup tan Premie Metropoliarch to 1 April 29 M

Don’t miss out on the Metropolitan U19 Premier Cup action at Erica Park in Belhar this weekend. Thousands of supporters are expected at Africa’s oldest and largest youth football event, a tournament that has produced soccer greats such as Benni McCarthy, Mark Williams and Nasief Morris.

The clubs you can see in action include Nigeria’s Segra Football Academy, Ajax Cape Town, Bay Hill United (the host club), Mamelodi Sundowns and last year’s champions, Chippa United.

HOT TIP!

Catch the train to support your favourite team. Unibell station is five minutes away from Erica Park.

[What’s on] Metrorail employees are joining forces with residents of Mowbray and Rosebank to clean up areas along the railway track.

Date Sunday 7 April Time 12pm to 2pm Contact George Kiewietz 021 507 2997

If the issue persists, technicians will be called so commuters can get to their destinations as quickly as possible.

If the technicians aren’t able to fix the problem immediately, protection services will be called in to help commuters get off the train.

To advertise in MyLine, please contact: NICHOLAS CARLSON Advertising Manager Phone 021 417 1184 Cell 079 798 5274 Fax 021 417 1112 nicholas.carlson@ mikatekomedia.co.za

MERLE PHILANDER Sales Executive Phone 021 417 1149 Cell 083 700 2700 Fax 021 417 1112 merle.philander@ mikatekomedia.co.za