Johannesburg Trains Return After 5-Year Lockdown Halt

Commuters in southern Johannesburg haven't heard a train whistle in their neighborhoods since 2020, but that's about to change.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has started repairs on the Vereeniging line, which stopped running during Covid lockdowns when vandals stripped overhead cables and damaged infrastructure. For communities in Lawley, Lenasia, Ennerdale, Orange Farm, and Sebokeng, the loss cut off the most affordable way to reach jobs in the city.

Lucky Sibeko from Lawley knows the struggle firsthand. "It used to be so convenient to take the train all the way to Jozi," he said. "Now you have to take multiple taxis, and the cost is too much for our people."

The financial strain forced small business owners to relocate closer to taxi ranks just to survive. Others had to close their doors entirely.

Contractors began tackling the main obstacle on January 8: a massive sinkhole between Midway and Lenasia stations. The project should take a few months to complete. Meanwhile, crews are re-railing tracks from Lawley to Residensia and renovating electrical substations that power the trains.

Currently, trains only run as far as Midway station on the border of Soweto. Once repairs finish, service will extend through Sebokeng, Evaton, and surrounding areas, reconnecting thousands of residents to Johannesburg's job market.

The Ripple Effect

The return of train service means more than just cheaper commutes. Families will save money on transport costs that have eaten into household budgets for five years. Small businesses that relocated or closed might find new life as foot traffic returns to station areas.

The restoration is part of Prasa's larger effort to rebuild the corridor all the way to Orange Farm and eventually Vereeniging. While vandalism remains a challenge (some newly installed cables have already been damaged), the agency is pushing forward with repairs that will benefit entire communities who depend on affordable public transit.

For thousands of people who've been paying premium taxi fares just to get to work, the sound of approaching trains will be music to their ears.