Central Line (Cape Town)
Encyclopedia
The Central Line is a commuter rail service in Cape Town
, South Africa
operated by Metrorail Western Cape. Central Line services operate along two routes from central Cape Town to Langa
, and then along three branches from Langa to various areas in the south-east of the city. The first branch runs to Mitchell's Plain
, the second to Khayelitsha
, and the third passes through Belhar
to terminate in Bellville
.
on one of two routes. The first route runs along the original Cape Town–Bellville main line through Salt River
to Maitland, and then branches south to pass around the western and southern edge of Pinelands
to Langa station. The other route runs along the relief main line past Paarden Eiland and then branches south through Kensington to Mutual station
; from Mutual it runs along the eastern edge of Pinelands to Langa.
From Langa station all trains pass through Bonteheuwel station; some continue east through Bishop Lavis and Belhar
, passing the University of the Western Cape
before turning north and then west to terminate at Bellville
. Other trains branch south after Bonteheuwel, passing Manenberg and Gugulethu to Philippi station. From Philippi, one branch passes south through Mitchell's Plain
to terminate at Kapteinsklip station, while the other passes south-east through Khayelitsha
to terminate at Chris Hani station. This line was recently extended from Khayelitsha station to two new stations serving eastern areas of Khayelitsha.
Most trains to Mitchell's Plain use the Salt River route from Cape Town to Langa, while most trains to Bellville or Khayelitsha use the Mutual route, but there are some exceptions.
s of Class 5M2
and (on the Khayelitsha line) Class 8M.
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. Central Line services operate along two routes from central Cape Town to Langa
Langa, Cape Town
Langa is a suburb found in Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1927 interms of the 1923 Urban Areas Act. Similar to Nyanga, Langa is one of the many areas in South Africa that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such suburbs in Cape Town and...
, and then along three branches from Langa to various areas in the south-east of the city. The first branch runs to Mitchell's Plain
Mitchell's Plain
Mitchells Plain is a largely coloured township about 20 km from the city of Cape Town. It is one of South Africa's largest townships. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Strandfontein and Khayelitsha...
, the second to Khayelitsha
Khayelitsha
Khayelitsha is a partially informal township in Western Cape, South Africa, located on the Cape Flats in the City of Cape Town. The name is Xhosa for New Home...
, and the third passes through Belhar
Belhar
Belhar is a suburb of the City of Cape Town in the Cape Flats area.It is known for being the place where the Belhar Confession was formulated....
to terminate in Bellville
Bellville, Cape Town
Bellville is a former city in the Western Cape province of South Africa; it is now part of the greater Cape Town metropolitan area. It falls within the area of the City of Cape Town municipality....
.
Route
Central Line trains depart from Cape Town 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....
on one of two routes. The first route runs along the original Cape Town–Bellville main line through Salt River
Salt River, Cape Town
Salt River is a mainly industrial suburb of Cape Town located near Table Bay to the east of the city. It is named after a river of the same name, this being a continuation of the Black River. The name Salt River is a translation of the Dutch "Soutrivier"...
to Maitland, and then branches south to pass around the western and southern 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...
to Langa station. The other route runs along the relief main line past Paarden Eiland and then branches south through Kensington to Mutual station
Mutual railway station
Mutual railway station is a Metrorail commuter rail station located between the suburbs of Maitland and Pinelands in Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated next to the South African headquarters of the Old Mutual, from which it takes its name...
; from Mutual it runs along the eastern edge of Pinelands to Langa.
From Langa station all trains pass through Bonteheuwel station; some continue east through Bishop Lavis and Belhar
Belhar
Belhar is a suburb of the City of Cape Town in the Cape Flats area.It is known for being the place where the Belhar Confession was formulated....
, passing the University of the Western Cape
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape is a public university located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only...
before turning north and then west to terminate at 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...
. Other trains branch south after Bonteheuwel, passing Manenberg and Gugulethu to Philippi station. From Philippi, one branch passes south through Mitchell's Plain
Mitchell's Plain
Mitchells Plain is a largely coloured township about 20 km from the city of Cape Town. It is one of South Africa's largest townships. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Strandfontein and Khayelitsha...
to terminate at Kapteinsklip station, while the other passes south-east through Khayelitsha
Khayelitsha
Khayelitsha is a partially informal township in Western Cape, South Africa, located on the Cape Flats in the City of Cape Town. The name is Xhosa for New Home...
to terminate at Chris Hani station. This line was recently extended from Khayelitsha station to two new stations serving eastern areas of Khayelitsha.
Most trains to Mitchell's Plain use the Salt River route from Cape Town to Langa, while most trains to Bellville or Khayelitsha use the Mutual route, but there are some exceptions.
Station listing
The Central Line serves the following stations:| Cape Town Cape 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.... |
|||
| Woodstock Woodstock 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.... |
Esplanade | ||
| Salt River Salt River railway station Salt 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... |
Paarden Eiland | ||
| Koeberg Road | Ysterplaat | ||
| Maitland | Mutual Mutual railway station Mutual railway station is a Metrorail commuter rail station located between the suburbs of Maitland and Pinelands in Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated next to the South African headquarters of the Old Mutual, from which it takes its name... |
||
| Ndabeni | |||
| Pinelands | |||
| Langa | |||
| Bonteheuwel | |||
| Netreg | Lavistown | ||
| Heideveld | Belhar | ||
| Nyanga | Unibell | ||
| Philippi | Pentech | ||
| Lentegeur | Stock Road | Sarepta | |
| Mitchell's Plain | Mandalay | 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... |
|
| Kapteinsklip | Nolungile | ||
| Nonkqubela | |||
| Khayelitsha | |||
| Kuyasa | |||
| Chris Hani | |||
Operation
The line is made up of track, electrified with 3,000 V DC overhead catenary; all parts of the line are at least double track. 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...
and (on the Khayelitsha line) Class 8M.