Northern Line (Cape Town)

The Northern Line is a commuter rail service in South Africa that in the Cape Town metropolitan area and its surroundings and is operated by Metrorail Western Cape. Northern Line services operate from central Cape Town to Bellville, and then from Bellville along three different routes. The first route runs along the main Cape Town–De Aar railway line to Paarl and Wellington. The second route passes through Stellenbosch to terminate at Muldersvlei station on the main line, while the third also passes through Somerset West to terminate in Strand.

Operations on the Northern Line halted in March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Operations resumed in late 2021 with trains on the relief main line past Century City and Monte Vista terminating at Kraaifontein. In early 2022, operations on the old main line through Salt River and Maitland as well as operations to Wellington resumed. In November 2023, operations to Strand resumed. As of December 2023, the route to Muldersvlei station through Stellenbosch remains the only segment of the Northern Line that has not been returned to service.

Route
Most Northern Line trains travel from Cape Town station along the old main line through Salt River, Maitland, Goodwood and Parow to Bellville station. Trains on the Wellington route continue from Bellville along the main line through Brackenfell and Kraaifontein, and then through the farmland outside the metropolitan area to reach the towns of Paarl and Wellington.

Other trains branch south-east after Bellville, passing through Kuils River to Eerste River; From there, some turn north to pass through Stellenbosch and terminate at Muldersvlei station on the main line, while others continue south-east through Somerset West along the line towards Caledon. Shortly after Somerset West they branch from this line to terminate at Strand on the False Bay coast.

The Northern Line also includes a service along the relief main line from Cape Town past Century City and Monte Vista to Bellville.

Station listing
The Northern line serves the following stations:

Operation
The line is made up of track, electrified with 3,000 V DC overhead catenary; most of the routes are at least double track, except for the Strand and Stellenbosch lines beyond Eerste River. Services are operated mostly by electric multiple units of Class 5M2.