A collision on Wednesday night between two trains near the Horizon train station in Roodepoort, in which one man was killed and four people, apparently felt like an earthquake.
The collision occurred at about 21:53 between a Shosholoza-Meyl Premier train and a stationary Transnet freight train.
The Shosholoza-Meyl departed from Cape Town on Tuesday with 36 passengers and 14 staff members. Five of the passengers got off at Kimberley station before the train continued its journey to Johannesburg.
“A man was killed in the accident and a woman, who was trapped in one of the wagons for hours after the accident. They were transported to the Netcare Milpark Hospital in a critical condition by helicopter. Four other passengers were taken by ambulance to Krugersdorp Hospital, ”said Nasa Zenani, spokesperson for Prasa.
Jody Pillay, 38, of Lewis Street across from the station, said the blow felt like an earthquake lasting several seconds.
“It was about 10 pm when I suddenly heard a tremendous blow and just after that I heard sirens. I ran out of horror at my house to see what was going on, ”Pillay said.
“I immediately saw the wreckage of two trains and somewhere a woman screamed for help. I think there were people trapped in one of the train carriages. Emergency workers were quickly on the scene and freed them. ”
According to Pillay, who has lived there for a decade, this is the first time an accident has happened near this station.
RSR spokeswoman Madelein Williams said the preliminary investigation indicates that the central control room authorized both trains to use the specific rail line. The trains are operated manually in this section.
“The RSR will announce its preliminary findings on the train crash within the next 48 hours.”
