A commuter train traveling from Cape Town to Wellington derailed at Dal Josafat station in Paarl on Tuesday evening, leaving 35 people injured and others trapped. The incident occurred around 6:41 pm and prompted an immediate response from emergency services, including Drakenstein Farm Watch (DFW), a private fire responder group in the Western Cape.
DFW was among the first on the scene, reporting that over 30 individuals were injured, with several still trapped inside the wreckage of the train. “We rushed to the scene and found over 30 people injured while multiple were still trapped,” said a DFW spokesperson. “We managed to rescue all passengers, and fortunately, no fatalities were reported.”
The injured passengers were quickly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, with their injuries ranging from minor to serious. Local authorities worked together to ensure that the situation was handled efficiently and that everyone received the necessary medical care.
Metrorail Western Cape later released a statement confirming the derailment and addressing the situation. “Other passengers onboard were transported home. At this stage, Prasa and TFR [Transnet Freight Rail] are investigating the incident. Prasa has also reported the derailment to the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), following established protocols,” the statement read.https://twitter.com/MDNnewss/status/1836105985556984312?s=19
Although the exact cause of the derailment is still unknown, investigations are underway to determine what led to the accident. The railway line has since been closed, and commuters have been advised to find alternative transport until the route is reopened.
This derailment comes just months after a similar incident in June, where a goods train derailed in KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in two injuries. According to Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst, “When medics arrived on the scene, they found that most of the cars were lying down an embankment. Two adult male occupants of the train were assessed and found to have sustained moderate injuries.”
The injured in the KwaZulu-Natal incident were also transported to nearby hospitals by private ambulances, with the cause of that derailment still under investigation as well.
The recent derailment in Paarl highlights growing safety concerns surrounding South Africa’s railway network. Train accidents have become a significant issue in the country, drawing attention to the state of infrastructure and the need for improved safety measures. While no fatalities were reported in the latest incident, the fact that 35 people were injured raises serious questions about the reliability and safety of South Africa’s rail systems.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to provide more information on the cause of the derailment and what steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the well-being of the injured and restoring normalcy to the affected railway lines.
Train safety in South Africa has come under increased scrutiny, and incidents like the one in Paarl underscore the urgency of addressing these concerns to ensure that such accidents do not become more frequent or deadly.