The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre is coordinating a safety exercise at the Monte Vista railway station tomorrow, 1 August 2018 between 10:00 and 14:00, which will simulate a rail disaster.

The exercise is being done in collaboration with various other agencies including the City's Fire and Rescue Service, Metrorail, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Transnet, the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, Emergency Medical Services and City Services.

The scenario will involve a passenger train colliding with a goods train on the Monte Vista line, causing the train to catch alight. A hazardous spill will also form part of the scenario.

The purpose of the exercise is to test the following:

•         response times of the various agencies
•         contingency plans for Transnet and PRASA with internal and external role players
•         how the various role-players work together and to identify any shortcomings
 
Members of the public are advised that a large contingent of emergency vehicles will respond to the scene. The public need not to be concerned as this deployment forms part of the exercise.

The City of Cape Town apologises for any inconvenience caused and appeals to the public to please comply with any requests from emergency services staff on the day.

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