Face-To-Face With BR Spokesperson

Masenya: On October 24, 2006, our southbound passenger train derailed at the Madiaela level crossing. As a result of the accident, six coaches and the locomotive were severely damaged. The total cost of the damage (as a result of the derailment) was P4.4 million. The coaches involved in the accident had never been put back on the main line due to the severity of the damage. The locomotive, however, was repaired shortly after the accident - the repairs included bodywork and painting, and it was back in operation six weeks following the accident. Botswana Railways has no immediate plans to reinstate the day passenger train from Gaborone to Francistown and viceversa, due to shortage of passenger coaches.