The DA is deeply concerned with railway safety in Gauteng after a second train accident in as many weeks.

200 train passengers were left injured during a train crash in Germiston this morning.

This incident occurred less than a week after 19 people died in a train accident in Kroonstad.

The DA wishes a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash.

The collision was allegedly caused by one of the trains that was authorized to be stationary while waiting for the manual signal for it to leave.

The incoming train hit the stationary train from behind. Both trains had commuters on board.

It is totally unacceptable for a train to be stationary on a railway line; this is a violation of the railway safety rules.

We call upon the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi to liaise with the national department of transport in finding the cause of this crash and those implicated must be held accountable.

We cannot tolerate injuries and deaths which are a result of the failure of train drivers to adhere to the railway safety rules.

The DA is more concerned with the recent rise of train crashes in the province.

We will write a letter to MEC Vadi requesting that the railway safety be addressed as a matter of urgency. The MEC must also ensure that railway safety regulations are enforced across all our stations.

 

Issued by DA