Train derailment being probed by Railway Safety Regulator

The train service between Wellington and Kraaifontein has been suspended indefinitely as investigations continue into the train derailment at Dal Josaphat in Paarl.

Twenty-five passengers were injured in the incident when two coaches derailed. The train was enroute from Cape Town to Wellington station when the incident occurred on Tuesday.

Metrorail spokesperson Zino Mihi said a delegation, including Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy and the deputy minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, had gone to the site on Wednesday.

The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) would conduct an investigation into the cause of the incident, she said.

In a statement, the Transport Department, said: The Rail Safety Regulator, together with law enforcement agencies, is currently conducting a preliminary investigation regarding this derailment and has indicated that a preliminary report will be ready in the next 48 hours.”

ANC provincial spokesperson for Mobility Benson Ngqentsu visited the train accident site after it occurred on Tuesday evening. “We commend the swift response of emergency services and the dedication of health-care workers at various hospitals. We urge the Railway Safety Regulator to launch a thorough investigation into this incident to ensure that safety measures are put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future,” said Ngqentsu.

DA spokesperson on Transport Dr Chris Hunsinger and his deputy, Thamsanqa Mabhena, were also at the crash site where they received a briefing from Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa regional manager and the rail incident commander from Transnet.

“Although no preliminary report has been made available, and no conclusive evidence exists on what may have caused the derailment, we reiterate our informed position that South Africa's rail network is currently facing significant challenges, particularly in terms of outdated signalling infrastructure,” they said in a joint statement.

Cape Times