Zambia: Suspension of Passenger Train Services Following a Goods Train Derailment

Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) has announced that passenger train services between Livingstone and Kitwe have been temporarily suspended with immediate effect. This is as a result of a derailment involving a goods train on 21 April, at 07:00hrs between Zimba and Bowood Section in Southern Province.

The derailment, suspected to be caused by a broken rail, involved a north-bound goods train no. 222 with twenty-eight (28) wagons conveying coal, out of which nine (9) wagons capsized, resulting in significant damage to the track and further necessitating urgent repair works before the line can be reopened to freight and passenger services.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries recorded as a result of the derailment. The suspension, therefore, entails that the passenger train that was scheduled to depart from Livingstone tonight at 20:00hrs will not take off as scheduled. Similarly, the other passenger train that should have departed from Kitwe this week on Friday at 16:00hrs will not move as planned. This decision is in the interest of public safety and to ensure the integrity of operations remains paramount.

ZRL has assured all stakeholders that the engineering teams are working around the clock to clear the derailment site and expedite restoration works.

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