City transport overwhelmed by replacement, replacement bus and train services

The replacement bus service system for the route between Simonstown and Fish Hoek recently set off an unstoppable chain reaction with the advent of a replacement rail service to replace the replacement bus service. The problem started in mid-summer when strong south-easterly winds whipped up so much sand on to the rail track that all trains were cancelled. Instead, municipal buses were laid on to transport the numerous workers and tourists who ply the route. However, the bus service deteriorated when a number of buses were damaged by vandals or simply became unserviceable (u/s). The situation became so bad that the municipality was forced to accelerate plans to remove the sand from the tracks and institute a replacement rail service to replace the ailing replacement bus service. With the council having to devote resources to both repairing buses and keeping the track clear for the replacement rail service it did not take long for the replacement rail service to fall behind the demand from passengers. As white sand once again started to cover the tracks, the council requisitioned buses from other routes, mainly Mitchell's Plain, to set up a replacement, replacement bus service to cater to travellers who no longer had the option of the replacement rail service. In turn planners in Mitchell's Plain were forced to find replacements for the missing buses in their area. This merely accelerated the chain reaction throughout the Cape Town metropolitan area and it was only a matter of time before the replacement, replacement bus service in Simonstown once again needed replacement. The council realised that its only option was to clear the tracks again to get replacement, replacement trains running to back up the replacement, replacement buses. Confessed City transport manager Elwyn Phantom, 'We have a lot to learn about the most efficient ways to manage replacement services.' He declined to answer questions about replacement, replacement services. To glean more information about the problem, a team of transport specialists is visiting England this week to study the problems at Southern Rail, which has the worst track record of all the rail services in the country and has made widespread use of replacement and replacement, replacement bus and train services. The team got off to a bad start when the SAA flight to London was delayed because a replacement Airbus had to be brought in from Johannesburg because the original Airbus was u/s.