At approximately 8.15am, paramedics from ER24, Metro EMS and Rescue Services, police as well as other services arrived on the scene. Five passengers were found near the platform and another five were found on the far side of the tracks.
Upon assessment, paramedics found that they sustained scrapes and bruises while one person sustained a moderate injury to her knee.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident is not yet known. Local railway authorities attended the scene and will conduct an investigation.
Metrorail confirmed that one of train 3206 carriages derailed on it approach to platform 11 at Bellville Station. The train was en route to Cape Town from Strand when the incident happened at 07:54.
Platform 11 is closed while various on-site investigations are in progress – recovery teams are assessing any possible damage to infrastructure before the line is re-opened for use. The incident compounded delays on the northern line.
Note derailment of a single carriage at Bellville Station impacts Northern Line Service pic.twitter.com/Ua2G6irDmA
— Metrorail W/Cape (@CapeTownTrains) August 18, 2017
Delays currently are longer than 60 minutes due to the incident and signal equipment failure on the approach to Cape Town Station.
Regional manager Richard Walker confirmed that every attempt will be made to clear the line as soon as possible: "Bellville is a strategic station on our northern network; fortunately we have several lines and platforms to where trains can be re-directed. We advise customers to listen to public address announcements for platform changes".
Customers are advised to consult Metrorail's passenger information channels for updates and service alerts. Those registered to receive short message alerts are requested to kindly share the information with fellow commuters.