Budget cuts on the upgrading and maintenance of railway signals is to blame for the train accident that claimed a life and left 42 people injured in Kempton Park on Friday night, the Democratic Alliance said.
”The government must take full responsibility for deaths and injuries if they allow millions to be cut from railway signals maintenance while spending billions on Gautrain,” DA transport spokesperson for Gauteng James Swart said on Saturday.
”I have reliable information that budget for the upgrading and maintenance of railway signals has been drastically cut.”
He said Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa should answer to the province’s ”deteriorating rail system”.
”How many more train accidents will we have to see before something is done? We have been promised immediate investigations concerning the incident,” Swart said in media statement.
”But since we are still waiting for investigations into last year’s commuter train crash in Soweto to be concluded, we wonder whether this one will lead anywhere.”
Friday night’s accident occurred when two Metrorail trains, which were headed for Pretoria, collided north of Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
According to police, the accident happened just after 7pm between the Pinedene and Olifantsfontein stations.
Metrorail spokesperson Thokozani Zitha said one train rear-ended the other. She said an investigation will be conducted to establish the cause of the accident.
Of those hurt, two were in a critical condition, while five others were seriously hurt. Three of the injured were train crew. — Sapa