{"id":237677,"date":"2022-09-20T19:37:21","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T17:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/article\/this-cape-towns-best-run-train-service\/"},"modified":"2022-09-20T19:37:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T17:37:21","slug":"this-is-cape-towns-best-run-train","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/this-is-cape-towns-best-run-train\/","title":{"rendered":"This is Cape Town\u2019s best run train"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mini Blue Train in Mouille Point, Cape Town, has been entertaining children and adults since 19 December 1956. Photos: Ashraf Hendricks<\/p>\n

As Metrorail\u2019s service in Cape Town has deteriorated, one train has consistently run on time and safely for over 60 years: the Mini Blue Train in Mouille Point. On Wednesday, about 30 protesters from activist groups #UniteBehind held a protest at this train to highlight the breakdown of commuter rail. <\/p>\n

To date, there have been no major reports of corruption, theft or arson at the Mini Blue Train. At R35, the five-minute train ride is a little expensive \u2014 perhaps because there\u2019s no government subsidy \u2014 and the circular track leaves you where you started, but that\u2019s still a better deal than most Metrorail commuters\u2019 experience. Also, the train fits perfectly onto the tracks.<\/p>\n

Zuki Vuka of #UniteBehind told the protesters: \u201cThe only train that is working is the one behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that although it might not be as affordable, it is \u201cfunctional\u201d.<\/p>\n

Protesters wore masks of different politicians, including Fikile Mbalula and Dikeledi Magadzi. #UniteBehind is calling on these Members of Parliament to be removed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Commuters wore Fikile Mbalula\u2019s photo on their faces.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Klaasen of the African Climate Alliance explained that climate justice is linked to transportation. \u201cPublic transport plays a massive role in protecting our climate,\u201d said Klaasen. He said that with the trains down many people are turning to cars and e-hailing services with worse effects on the environment.<\/p>\n

Wearing a Mbalula mask, activist Zackie Achmat signed a giant certificate of achievement. It stated: This certificate is presented to The Blue Train Park. The Only Working Train in South Africa.<\/p>\n

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Zackie Achmat, wearing a photo of Fikile Mbalula on his face, addresses the protesters. Behind the fun was a serious message about the collapse of commuter rail across South Africa.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Source: GroundUp<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mini Blue Train in Mouille Point, Cape Town, has been entertaining children and adults since 19 December 1956. Photos: Ashraf Hendricks As Metrorail\u2019s service in Cape Town has deteriorated, one train has consistently run on time and safely for over 60 years: the Mini Blue Train in Mouille Point. On Wednesday, about 30 protesters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":237678,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9928],"tags":[28001],"class_list":{"0":"post-237677","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-groundup","8":"tag-groundup","9":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/this-is-cape-towns-best-run-train.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237677"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237677\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/237678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}