A 30-year-old man was knocked down by a train and killed near Parow railway station on Thursday August 4.
Metrorail spokeswoman Daphne Kayster said the incident happened at about 10.35am.
Ms Kayster said the man had been struck by a train between Parow and Elsies River. Initial reports, she said, indicated he had been walking on the tracks.
“We implore the public to only use authorised crossings, such as subways and bridges to cross railway lines for their own safety. Trains operate on fixed infrastructure and cannot take evasive action or stop immediately,” she said.
Asked about broken fencing on railway tracks, Ms Kayster said Metrorail did its utmost to quickly replace or mend damaged fencing, but its resources were limited, and fencing could really only “demarcate boundaries” and would not stop “wilfully entry”. Ms Kayster said Metrorail spent at least R3 million annually on fencing at train stations.
“Fencing replacement and repairs are planned and prioritised annually in terms of urgency or necessity and implemented according to available funding. Due to the vastness of the region and resources available, replacement or repair has to be prioritised against other pressing and equally valid projects,” she said.
Parow police spokesman Captain Kevin Williams said police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.