South Africa : Crash injures many

[27vet]

A metro train collided into the back of another, resulting in many injuries, some school kids. So far no fatalities. Speculation that cable theft was the root cause is rife. Cable theft is all too common in South Africa and the government seem useless at curbing it.

http://news.iafrica.com/sa/840007.html

[Torquay]

Originally Posted by 27vet

A metro train collided into the back of another, resulting in many injuries, some school kids. So far no fatalities. Speculation that cable theft was the root cause is rife. Cable theft is all too common in South Africa and the government seem useless at curbing it.

http://news.iafrica.com/sa/840007.html

Hi 27vet, i have been reading The Star Newspaper and it say's the driver could be responsible. Apparently the driver concerned had not driven for two years and was being used because of strike action, also he had previous accidents of a similar nature. And as you are aware it is highly dangerous to work when their is a strike on, as you can pay with your life as you know.
TQY.

[27vet]

That's interesting Torquay, I agree strike busting carries great risks in South Africa. I couldn't find the article though but I found this one which mentions the cable theft and it could well be a combination of both, since they say the signalling system was down due to the cable theft.

http://news.iafrica.com/sa/840130.html

[27vet]

Here is another version again, so really, who knows what is going on? least of all the authorities :

Johannesburg - The driver of the train that rammed into the back of another stationary train in Pretoria, had a 12-month final written warning for violating safety standards, it was reported on Saturday.

The written warning meant that the driver was removed from driving and reassigned to other duties, The Citizen reported.

The allegation was made by the National Transport Movement (NTM), a breakaway union from SA Transport and Allied Workers Union, following a statement by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) claiming the union had been linked to the recent torching of trains around the country.

"This driver had to be used because of the strike action," NTM president Ephraim Mphahlele told the newspaper.

"We believe that operations are suffering and they ended up having to use this driver at the last minute."

Mphahlele said the driver had not been driving for the past two years.

At least 200 people were injured, some critically, when the two passenger trains collided near Saulsville in Pretoria on Thursday.

No deaths were reported, but Prasa said two people, including a train driver, sustained critical injuries. Nineteen others suffered serious injuries.

Paramedics examined 350 people, including children, at the scene.

Prasa spokesperson Lawrence Venk would not comment on NTM's allegations.

"We won't comment on the train driver, pending the outcome of [an] investigation, as it is directly in relation to safety issues that are part of the brief of the investigation," he told the newspaper.

- SAPA