Cape Flats Line
Encyclopedia
The Cape Flats Line is a commuter rail line in Cape Town
, South Africa
, operated by Metrorail Western Cape. It connects central Cape Town with the suburbs of Pinelands
, Athlone
, Lansdowne
, Ottery
and Retreat
.
, from which it runs east along the Cape Town–Bellville
main line as far as Maitland. After Maitland station it branches off to the south, passing along the western edge of Pinelands
before crossing under the N2 freeway and over the Black River. It then continues south through Athlone
and Lansdowne
, and then south-west through Ottery
and Southfield, before joining the Southern Line route in Diep River
. Services on the Cape Flats Line terminate at Retreat, except for a few trains per day which continue along the Southern Line to Fish Hoek.
s of Class 5M2
.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, operated by Metrorail Western Cape. It connects central Cape Town with the suburbs of Pinelands
Pinelands, Cape Town
The "garden city" suburb of Pinelands is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa and is known for its large thatched houses. The suburb is primarily residential and is often praised for its peacefulness and abundance of trees...
, Athlone
Athlone, Cape Town
Athlone is a suburb of Cape Town located to the east of the city centre on the Cape Flats to the south of the N2 highway. It is named after Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone who was Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1930...
, Lansdowne
Lansdowne, Cape Town
Lansdowne is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa. It is part of the area Cape Flats, and is situated 10 kilometres SouthEast of Cape Town City Centre, between the two neighbour towns Rondebosch East and Crawford. Lansdowne is served by a railway station of the same name, on the Cape Flats...
, Ottery
Ottery, Cape Town
Ottery is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa. It is on the edge of the Southern Suburbs. The Youngsfield Military Base, Royal Cape Golf Club and Cape Town's 'official' China Town are located in the suburb...
and Retreat
Retreat, Cape Town
-Geography:Retreat is bordered by Lavender Hill to the south and Heathfield to the north. Retreat railway station is on the main line from Cape Town to Simon's Town. Main Road runs along the west of Retreat....
.
Route
The Cape Flats Line service begins at the central Cape Town railway stationCape Town Railway Station
Cape Town railway station is the main railway station of the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located along Adderley and Strand Streets in the city's central business district....
, from which it runs east along the Cape Town–Bellville
Bellville railway station
Bellville railway station is a railway station in the town of Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa. It is the second-biggest station in the Cape Town Metrorail railway network, after the Cape Town terminus. All trains on Metrorail's Northern Line pass through Bellville, and one branch of the...
main line as far as Maitland. After Maitland station it branches off to the south, passing along the western edge of Pinelands
Pinelands, Cape Town
The "garden city" suburb of Pinelands is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa and is known for its large thatched houses. The suburb is primarily residential and is often praised for its peacefulness and abundance of trees...
before crossing under the N2 freeway and over the Black River. It then continues south through Athlone
Athlone, Cape Town
Athlone is a suburb of Cape Town located to the east of the city centre on the Cape Flats to the south of the N2 highway. It is named after Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone who was Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1930...
and Lansdowne
Lansdowne, Cape Town
Lansdowne is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa. It is part of the area Cape Flats, and is situated 10 kilometres SouthEast of Cape Town City Centre, between the two neighbour towns Rondebosch East and Crawford. Lansdowne is served by a railway station of the same name, on the Cape Flats...
, and then south-west through Ottery
Ottery, Cape Town
Ottery is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa. It is on the edge of the Southern Suburbs. The Youngsfield Military Base, Royal Cape Golf Club and Cape Town's 'official' China Town are located in the suburb...
and Southfield, before joining the Southern Line route in Diep River
Diep River
Diep River, drains the area between the Kasteel Mountain and the northern slopes of the Durbanville Hills, in Western Cape, province South Africa....
. Services on the Cape Flats Line terminate at Retreat, except for a few trains per day which continue along the Southern Line to Fish Hoek.
Station listing
- Cape TownCape Town Railway StationCape Town railway station is the main railway station of the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located along Adderley and Strand Streets in the city's central business district....
- WoodstockWoodstock railway station (Cape Town)Woodstock railway station is a Metrorail railway station in Woodstock, Cape Town. It is the first station after the Cape Town terminus on the old main line to Bellville. Services on all of Metrorail's lines pass through the station....
- Salt RiverSalt River railway stationSalt River railway station is a Metrorail railway station in Salt River, Cape Town. It is the second station from the Cape Town terminus on the old main line to Bellville, and the junction where the Southern Line branches from the main line...
- Koeberg Road
- Maitland
- Ndabeni
- Pinelands
- Hazendal
- Athlone
- CrawfordCrawford railway station (Cape Town)Crawford railway station is a Metrorail station that serves the suburbs of Rondebosch East and Crawford in Cape Town, South Africa. It is served by trains on the Cape Flats Line....
- Lansdowne
- Wetton
- Ottery
- Southfield
- Heathfield
- Retreat
Operation
The line is made up of double track, electrified with 3,000 V DC overhead catenary. Services are operated mostly by electric multiple unitElectric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s of Class 5M2
SAR Class 5M2
The South African Railways Class 5M2 and Class 5M2A are electric multiple units that are used to provide commuter rail services by Metrorail in the major cities of South Africa. The original Class 5M2 trainsets were built by Metro Cammell between 1958 and 1960...
.