Metrorail KwaZulu-Natal
Encyclopedia
Metrorail KwaZulu-Natal is a network of commuter rail services in and around the city of Durban
in KwaZulu-Natal
province, South Africa
. It is operated by Metrorail
, a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).
Services are provided by electric multiple unit
s of Class 5M2
and Class 10M. Most services pass through the two main stations in central Durban, Berea Road and Durban Station
, except for those that operate from southern parts of Durban to Wests station on the Bluff
.
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
province, 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...
. It is operated by Metrorail
Metrorail (South Africa)
Metrorail is an operator of commuter rail services in the major urban areas of South Africa. It is a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa , a state-owned enterprise which is responsible for most passenger rail services in South Africa...
, a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).
Services are provided by electric multiple unit
Electric 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 Class 10M. Most services pass through the two main stations in central Durban, Berea Road and Durban Station
Durban railway station
Durban railway station is the central railway station in the city of Durban, South Africa, located between Umgeni Road and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue just to the north of the central business district...
, except for those that operate from southern parts of Durban to Wests station on the Bluff
Bluff, KwaZulu-Natal
Bluff or The Bluff is a residential suburb of Durban, eThekwini metropolitan municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. One of five such suburbs in the South Durban Basin, the community is situated on a promontory that is one of the main enclosing elements of Durban Harbour from the...
.
Lines
- The South Coast Line operates along the Indian OceanIndian OceanThe Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
coastline from KelsoKelso, KwaZulu-NatalKelso, Kwazulu-Natal is located in the Umdoni Coast region of South Africa facing the Indian Ocean. Kelso is located 65 kilometers south of Durban, the largest city in Kwazulu-Natal.-History:...
through Scottburgh, Umkomaas, Amanzimtoti and Isipingo to central Durban. - The Bluff Line operates from Wests station, along the BluffBluff, KwaZulu-NatalBluff or The Bluff is a residential suburb of Durban, eThekwini metropolitan municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. One of five such suburbs in the South Durban Basin, the community is situated on a promontory that is one of the main enclosing elements of Durban Harbour from the...
to three different destinations: central Durban, UmlaziUmlaziUmlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban....
, and ChatsworthChatsworth, DurbanChatsworth, is a large Indian township in Durban, South Africa, which was created as a result of the Apartheid Government's Group Areas Act. This area, created in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was populated by those removed from their homes in mixed-race and whites-only areas...
. - The New Main Line operates from Cato Ridge through MariannhillMariannhillMariannhill is a little suburb near Pinetown in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa....
to central Durban. - The Old Main Line operates from PinetownPinetownPinetown is a small city just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pinetown is situated 16 km west of Durban at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 feet . It was established in 1850 around the Wayside Hotel, itself built the year before along the main wagon route between Durban and...
through Queensburgh to central Durban. - The North Coast Line operates the coastline from Stanger through Tongaat, VerulamVerulam, KwaZulu-NatalVerulam is a town 27 kilometres north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is now part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Area.-History:In 1850 a party of 400 methodists settled here and formed the town. The town was then named after the Earl of Verulam, patron of the Brits who settled...
and Durban NorthDurban NorthDurban North is a suburb located north of Durban, on the eastern side of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Durban North is on the north side of the Umgeni River. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area.A beach known to locals as...
to central Durban. - The KwaMashu-Umlazi Line operates from KwaMashuKwaMashuKwaMashu is a township twenty miles north of Durban, South Africa with very high levels of poverty and crime.-History:The township was formed by the apartheid state to house the mass resettlement of Africans that were living in Cato Manor during 1958-65. It is the largest of 3 townships in the area...
through central Durban to UmlaziUmlaziUmlazi is a township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The wider Umlazi area has a population of 750,000. The township is located south-west of Durban....
. - The Chatsworth Line operates from ChatsworthChatsworth, DurbanChatsworth, is a large Indian township in Durban, South Africa, which was created as a result of the Apartheid Government's Group Areas Act. This area, created in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was populated by those removed from their homes in mixed-race and whites-only areas...
to central Durban.