The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) has concluded its preliminary investigation into the Elandsfontein collision in which a Metro Express train travelling from Pretoria to Johannesburg collided with another Prasa train which was moving out of the Elandsfontein yard.
The collision occurred on the morning of June 1 and resulted in a fatality, and injuries to 102 passengers.
The preliminary inquiry was conducted to determine the facts of the occurrence; the immediate cause of the occurrence and to assess whether the occurrence warrants further investigation.
The preliminary investigation revealed the following:
- The train control officer authorised two trains into the same section of track at the same time.
- The train control personnel on duty failed to observe and implement the requirements of abnormal working as stipulated in the Train Working Rules.
- Prasa Elandsfontein train control personnel embarked on an abnormal working process littered with numerous poor safety defences/uncontrolled risks, routine violations and lacking several key safety procedures.
- The handover between the night and day shift TCOs was not done properly.
- The authorisation of Train 0600 into the section was not done as per the requirements of the train working rules.
A further inquiry into the circumstances that led to this collision will be conducted to obtain detailed information.
The RSR has, in the meantime, issued a Prohibition Directive barring Prasa from operating trains in the Prasa Gauteng Region under abnormal working conditions.
Related articles:
RSR issues prohibition directive to Prasa
Update – Single line shuttle service introduced after Elandsfontein train collision
Update – Signalling cable theft blamed for train collision in Elandsfontein – says Prasa
BREAKING NEWS – One dead and over 100 injured in Metrorail collision in Elandsfontein
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (journalist) leighh@caxton.co.za or Puleng Sekabate pulengs@caxton.co.za.
Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:
Or add the GCN on WhatsApp 079 406 1181 or BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137) today, to get all the latest news.
Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers Bedfordview Edenvale News, Alberton Record and Kempton Express.