Photo by: Duane Daws
The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) on Tuesday reported that it was investigating the derailment of a Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) train on January 17.
The train had been travelling from Bellville to Caledon on the Metrorail network when it derailed between the Faure and Firgrove stations. Four wagons derailed as the train came out of the loop into the mainline, causing damage to 250 m of track.
"The 22-wagon train carried malt. No injuries, cargo loss or spillage were reported," Transnet Freight Rail spokesperson Mike Asefovitz told Engineering News Online.
While technical teams were working on rerailing the freight train's wagons, repairs to the railway line were also under way. Asefovitz noted that the anticipated restoration time of full service would be late Tuesday afternoon.
Metrorail had arranged alternative transport for commuters travelling between Cape Town and Strand.
RSR investigators would visit the incident site and a comprehensive investigation report on the derailment would be communicated. “It will take a consolidated effort from our operators and rail personnel to ensure derailments and accidents that jeopardise people’s safety are at zero level,” stated RSR CEO Nkululeko Poya.