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Gautrain derailment investigation by Railway Safety Regulator points to cause

Problems with the interlocking procedures led to the derailment and temporary suspension of the Gautrain service between Pretoria and Hatfield earlier this month‚ according to a preliminary probe.

The train derailed on 16 February at Hatfield station‚ Pretoria‚ at approximately 08h33.

The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) said its preliminary investigation into the derailment revealed that there were problems with the interlocking. It explained: “The points‚ that is‚ the installations enabling the train to be guided from one track to another‚ were not completely closed for safe passage of trains (blades not against stock rail). This resulted in a signal being passed at danger‚ which led to the derailment.”

The RSR is in the process of instituting a Board of Inquiry to establish the root cause of the occurrence and to provide recommendations in order to prevent similar occurrences in future.

At the time of the incident‚ Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said it was a “minor derailment” that occurred as the train approached Hatfield station at low speed.

No one was injured.

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