Photo by: Duane Daws
A preliminary investigation by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) into the derailment of a Shosholoza Meyl train in Kimberley earlier this month, found that Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) had failed to communicate with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) regarding a newly introduced temporary speed restriction, owing to the construction of joggle joints from the main line to a newly built line to divert railway traffic.
The long-distance train, travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town, derailed between Modderrivier and Heuningneskloof stations, in the Northern Cape, as the train driver failed to observe warning signs noting that the speed limit was 30 km/h.
The train was travelling at about 81 km/h when the train was moving from the main line to the new line, resulting in the derailment of 11 coaches and one locomotive.
Sixty passengers, the train driver, his assistant and a technician were injured in the derailment.
About 300 m of rail and sleepers, four mast poles, one locomotive and 11 coaches were damaged in the incident.