The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) Western Cape said no fatalities were reported after a rail incident in the early evening of Tuesday September 17, in which 25 passengers were injured when a train heading from Cape Town, on its way to Wellington, derailed near the Dal Josafat station close to Paarl.
The injured passengers were transported by ambulance to various hospitals for further medical care. The other remaining passengers who were on board at the time of the derailment, but who were unharmed in the incident were transported to their homes by transport provided by Prasa.
Prasa and Transnet Freight Rail are investigating the incident and a preliminary report is due on Friday.
“At this stage, the incident is under investigation. As per regulatory requirements, the incident was reported to the Railway Safety Regulator.
“Our thoughts are with the passengers affected by the incident and wish those injured a swift and full recovery,” the rail agency says.
The Minster of Transport, Barbara Creecy and the Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, who have have expressed messages of well wishes and speedy recovery to the 25 passengers, have urged the Railway Safety Regulator to fast-track their investigation to determine the root cause of this derailment.
The Rail Safety Regulator, together with law enforcement agencies, is currently conducting a preliminary investigation regarding this derailment and has indicated yesterday that a preliminary report will be ready in the next 48 hours.
Edgar J Petersen, from Paarl, who was on the scene, described the scenes he witnessed after the derailment and says it appeared that at least two coaches left the rail, and the locomotive crashed into the platform.
When he arrived on the scene, he says all passengers were already removed from the train. Many injured passengers were treated on the scene by emergency services and others including the train driver, he says were transported to hospital.
“There was considerable damage visible to the train station’s infrastructure, but it seems as if the railway tracks were not seriously damaged,” he says.
Zinobulali Mihi, Prasa spokesperson, was asked by Bolander whether train services have resumed at the Dal Josafat station or if services presently still remain suspended. An enquiry on the extent of damage done to the station’s infrastructure was also submitted. No response from Ms Mihi was received at the time of publication.
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