Train crash ‘human error’

Human error caused the train collision that claimed two lives near Berlin this week.

At around 11am on Wednesday, a Transnet goods train transporting bags of cement collided head-on with a Shosholoza Meyl passenger train.

Two people were declared dead on the scene and five staff members and four passengers were critically injured.

The passenger train was on its way to Johannesburg from East London.

Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana  yesterday revealed that a Transnet controller had given authorisation to both trains to travel on the line, which was supposed to have one at a time.

“We welcome the speedy investigation that was conducted between yesterday and this morning by the Railway Safety Regulator team,” said Tikana.

Yesterday morning there were close to 100 workers at the crash site clearing the wreckage. It was not clear when the line would reopen.

David Ngetu, who lives close, said he arrived two minutes after the accident and  saw the driver of the passenger train next to the railway. “He told me when he saw they were about to crash he jumped out.

“He said he also saw the people from the oncoming goods train jumping out,” he added.

Mthura Swartz, the executive manager for mainline passenger services for Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), which owns Shosholoza Meyl, yesterday confirmed the drivers of both trains had managed to jump out before the collision.

Prasa yesterday identified the deceased as Piet Baloyi, 58, of Soweto and Yingwani Shivambu, 62, of Orange Farm.

The two had worked for the company for 35 and 36 years.

Transnet national spokesman Mike Asefovitz  yesterday said:

“The train traffic controller is a Transnet employee based in East London.  However, I cannot comment on the single line authorisation of this incident until the investigation is complete.”

Swartz said both parties would establish a joint board of inquiry. He said the Railway Safety Regulator conducted its own investigation.

Swartz disputed a statement published that Shosholoza Meyl was at fault for the accident, as suggested by former train driver Louis Brockett.

“There is a dual ownership of the network and Prasa does not own or control the network in the Eastern Cape. That responsibility belongs to Transnet. We are simply users of the network and we cannot be blamed.”

He said in line with their approach in similar incidents in the past, they would compensate the injured based on their “no fault” principle.

“The money will range between R7000 and R15000 depending on the extent of their injuries,” he said, adding that their group insurance office would handle that aspect.

Asefovitz said their priority was to repair the track. “We are only expecting one goods train to be on that route today . We are in discussions with the client and we are trying to establish whether to transport it by road or whether they can wait,” he said.

One passenger train is expected today.

Survivor Xolile Vuma said she saw her life flash before her eyes. She was travelling to Johannesburg after visiting her sister in Berlin. “All I could think about was my children,” she said from Bhisho Hospital yesterday. She has back injuries.