A new train from Poland, meant for the Tema-Mpakadan railway, had an accident during a test drive in Asuogyaman district.
The Ministry of Railways Development said the accident happened around 12:10 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
They explained that the train hit a car parked on the tracks at Km76+100.
The Ministry confirmed that there were no fatalities, and everyone including passengers, drivers, crew, and bystanders are safe.
The Railway Ministry stated that they have reported the incident to the police, and investigations are ongoing.
The Ministry reassured the public about safety, emphasizing their dedication to maintaining the ongoing safe operation of the railway system.
“Despite the immediate application of the emergency braking system, the train was unable to come to a complete stop before colliding with the vehicle.”
“It is important to note that the vehicle was unmanned, and the location where it was found is not designated as an authorized level crossing. Thankfully, there were no injuries on the part of passengers on the train or bystanders. However, there was minor damage to the driver’s cab section of the train.”
“The incident has been promptly reported to the Police, and investigations are currently underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. The DMU involved is on the move to the Workshop for further assessment and necessary repairs.”
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During an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Peter Amewu, the Minister of Railway Development, mentioned that engineers are presently repairing the train that sustained damage.
“Engineers are currently working on it, the train has been brought back to the workshop. The KIA driver has reported himself to the police station. The good thing is that none of the passengers, crew on board is , we’re currently in the process of assessing the damage to the train. Technically, the train is still in good form, nothing in terms of the electricals or engine have been disturbed. We’re hoping that the insurance company will work on it as quickly as possible to bring the train back on the line.”
He said the people in the community knew about the test drive.
There were reports that the government had bought 12 trains for the Ghana Railways Company, which would run on regional and long-distance routes.
But the Ghana Railway Development Authority said these reports were not true.
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