Metrorail slammed for speeding trains
Human error was the "root cause" of the horror accident at the Faure level crossing near Cape Town that killed 20 farm workers last month.
So says the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) - but it says the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) and Metrorail also "have a shared responsibility" for the incident.
The RSR's independent investigation made a "conclusive finding" that the truck driver could be blamed for the collision that took place shortly on November 13.
The report states that the condition of the truck and overloading of the vehicle with 30 farm workers may have contributed to the accident.
But the report also strongly condemns the SARCC/Metrorail, referred to as the operator, for allowing trains to travel through an unprotected level crossing at speeds of 90km an hour.
It argued that the operator should have a shared responsibility in promoting the safety of railways and crossings.
"The current practice is that the responsibility for averting a potential level crossing lies with the road user exclusively and is not shared with the train driver.
"It is therefore our view that this practice does nothing to promote safety on our railways and the rail operator should have a shared responsibility in this regard."
Pule Mabe, national spokesperson for SARCC/Metrorail, said the recommendations of the report had been noted and respected.
But, he said, the company would wait until the findings of the SAPS before it would consider taking the recommended corrective steps. In a statement released by Metrorail shortly after the collision, the operator denied responsibility for the accident.
"The company further reacts strongly to allegations that rail signals may be at fault.
"In this regard, SARCC-Metrorail maintains that the crossing in question - and all others, for that matter - conforms fully to the statutory requirements. It must also be noted that the accident has nothing to do with commuter rail and the state of our infrastructure.
"It is an accident at a level crossing on a road leading to a private property. The level crossings meet all legal standards which require drivers and passengers as well as pedestrians to take extra care when approaching railway crossing."
This was challenged by the RSR's findings and the regulator has ordered that the speed at the Faure level crossing must be reduced to 40km with immediate effect, pending a risk assessment on the site .
It was also suggested that the "high-risk" Faure level crossing may be removed completely.
The SARCC/Metrorail risk assessment must extend to all unprotected level crossings nationally and an action plan of interventions has to be submitted to the RSR.
Mabe said yesterday that while SARCC/Metrorail accepted "some responsibility" for the accident, it was still busy with its own investigation.
Farm workers in the Faure area complained after the accident that trains seldom whistled when they sped through the crossings.
The RSR report says there are no special procedures in place for train drivers when approaching such a level crossing. The driver is only allowed to apply emergency brakes when there is an obstruction across the tracks, and by this stage it is often too late to stop the train.
The regulator has directed SARCC/Metrorail to launch an intensive speed-monitoring programme that will include speed awareness programmes. Drivers will be trained to sound their sirens when approaching all level crossings.
The SARCC/Metrorail has also been ordered to adapt all coaches with equipment that will improve the audibility of trains in poor weather conditions.
Of the RSR report, Mabe said: "We will seek to continue improving safety. We will find a way to integrated this report into the work we are already doing." He said SARCC/Metrorail had contributed R200 000 to the families of those killed in the accident.
Fred Van Zyl, manager of Faure farms, was one of the first to arrive on the accident scene. He welcomed the findings of the RSR. "This is a good thing. We have a huge problem here."
He said one of the workers on his farm has lodged a complaint with Metrorail last week after she narrowly escaped being hit by a train at the same crossing.
"Again, the train did not use its siren."
Van Zyl said he hoped the SARCC/Metrorail would implement the corrective steps.
Marius Fransman, MEC for Transport, said that he had not yet received the report and therefore could not comment on its findings. Jeff Radebe, Minister of Transport, still had to "apply his mind" to the report before he could respond to the findings. Read more
So says the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) - but it says the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) and Metrorail also "have a shared responsibility" for the incident.
The RSR's independent investigation made a "conclusive finding" that the truck driver could be blamed for the collision that took place shortly on November 13.
The report states that the condition of the truck and overloading of the vehicle with 30 farm workers may have contributed to the accident.
But the report also strongly condemns the SARCC/Metrorail, referred to as the operator, for allowing trains to travel through an unprotected level crossing at speeds of 90km an hour.
It argued that the operator should have a shared responsibility in promoting the safety of railways and crossings.
"The current practice is that the responsibility for averting a potential level crossing lies with the road user exclusively and is not shared with the train driver.
"It is therefore our view that this practice does nothing to promote safety on our railways and the rail operator should have a shared responsibility in this regard."
Pule Mabe, national spokesperson for SARCC/Metrorail, said the recommendations of the report had been noted and respected.
But, he said, the company would wait until the findings of the SAPS before it would consider taking the recommended corrective steps. In a statement released by Metrorail shortly after the collision, the operator denied responsibility for the accident.
"The company further reacts strongly to allegations that rail signals may be at fault.
"In this regard, SARCC-Metrorail maintains that the crossing in question - and all others, for that matter - conforms fully to the statutory requirements. It must also be noted that the accident has nothing to do with commuter rail and the state of our infrastructure.
"It is an accident at a level crossing on a road leading to a private property. The level crossings meet all legal standards which require drivers and passengers as well as pedestrians to take extra care when approaching railway crossing."
This was challenged by the RSR's findings and the regulator has ordered that the speed at the Faure level crossing must be reduced to 40km with immediate effect, pending a risk assessment on the site .
It was also suggested that the "high-risk" Faure level crossing may be removed completely.
The SARCC/Metrorail risk assessment must extend to all unprotected level crossings nationally and an action plan of interventions has to be submitted to the RSR.
Mabe said yesterday that while SARCC/Metrorail accepted "some responsibility" for the accident, it was still busy with its own investigation.
Farm workers in the Faure area complained after the accident that trains seldom whistled when they sped through the crossings.
The RSR report says there are no special procedures in place for train drivers when approaching such a level crossing. The driver is only allowed to apply emergency brakes when there is an obstruction across the tracks, and by this stage it is often too late to stop the train.
The regulator has directed SARCC/Metrorail to launch an intensive speed-monitoring programme that will include speed awareness programmes. Drivers will be trained to sound their sirens when approaching all level crossings.
The SARCC/Metrorail has also been ordered to adapt all coaches with equipment that will improve the audibility of trains in poor weather conditions.
Of the RSR report, Mabe said: "We will seek to continue improving safety. We will find a way to integrated this report into the work we are already doing." He said SARCC/Metrorail had contributed R200 000 to the families of those killed in the accident.
Fred Van Zyl, manager of Faure farms, was one of the first to arrive on the accident scene. He welcomed the findings of the RSR. "This is a good thing. We have a huge problem here."
He said one of the workers on his farm has lodged a complaint with Metrorail last week after she narrowly escaped being hit by a train at the same crossing.
"Again, the train did not use its siren."
Van Zyl said he hoped the SARCC/Metrorail would implement the corrective steps.
Marius Fransman, MEC for Transport, said that he had not yet received the report and therefore could not comment on its findings. Jeff Radebe, Minister of Transport, still had to "apply his mind" to the report before he could respond to the findings. Read more
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