News / National
Bulawayo-Hre passenger train suspended
26 Aug 2014 at 18:07hrs | Views
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has suspended the Bulawayo-Harare passenger train following its derailment on Saturday, a development that is set to leave hundreds of train-travellers stranded.
The train is the cheapest mode of transport in the country with a trip to Harare costing $4 while road transport costs about $12 a trip.
About eight coaches derailed on Saturday and 22 injured travellers were rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals where two are still reportedly admitted.
NRZ public relations manager Fanuel Masikati said the passenger train has been temporarily suspended.
"The Bulawayo-Harare passenger train is temporarily cancelled until further notice. Investigations are underway and we hope to get a clearer picture soon. So we don't want to speculate and pre-empt the investigations," he said.
NRZ acting managing director Retired Brigadier General Levi Mayihlome said preliminary investigations indicated that state of the track or the coach's wheels could have caused the accident.
"Preliminary investigations indicate that the track infrastructure could have caused the accident or the coaches wheels could have jumped and dragged the eight coaches," he said.
He said a comprehensive investigation was underway. Brig Gen Mayihlome said by yesterday afternoon the track had been cleared.
The cash-strapped parastatal has been forced to reduce its trains' carrying capacity by over 70 percent due to financial constraints about three years ago. The train is carrying about 120 passengers instead of its 400 capacity.
Last month NRZ suspended the Bulawayo-Beitbridge train saying they were carrying out rehabilitation works on the track.
Another train was recently involved in an accident with a tram carrying tourists in Victoria Falls and one person died.
The train is the cheapest mode of transport in the country with a trip to Harare costing $4 while road transport costs about $12 a trip.
About eight coaches derailed on Saturday and 22 injured travellers were rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals where two are still reportedly admitted.
NRZ public relations manager Fanuel Masikati said the passenger train has been temporarily suspended.
"The Bulawayo-Harare passenger train is temporarily cancelled until further notice. Investigations are underway and we hope to get a clearer picture soon. So we don't want to speculate and pre-empt the investigations," he said.
NRZ acting managing director Retired Brigadier General Levi Mayihlome said preliminary investigations indicated that state of the track or the coach's wheels could have caused the accident.
"Preliminary investigations indicate that the track infrastructure could have caused the accident or the coaches wheels could have jumped and dragged the eight coaches," he said.
He said a comprehensive investigation was underway. Brig Gen Mayihlome said by yesterday afternoon the track had been cleared.
The cash-strapped parastatal has been forced to reduce its trains' carrying capacity by over 70 percent due to financial constraints about three years ago. The train is carrying about 120 passengers instead of its 400 capacity.
Last month NRZ suspended the Bulawayo-Beitbridge train saying they were carrying out rehabilitation works on the track.
Another train was recently involved in an accident with a tram carrying tourists in Victoria Falls and one person died.
Source - chronicle
