OVER 500 ACCIDENTS OCCURRED ALONG CENTRAL RAILWAY IN 3 YEARS

By Patrick Kisembo and Lilian Lucas 
Morogoro. A total of 533 accidents, most of which caused by human activities,  occurred along the central railway line over the past three years.

Speaking during  the Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) workers’ Council meeting yesterday, a senior official from the Surface and marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA),  Mr Elisha Mhoka, said human activities caused 130 accidents, equivalent to 24.4 per cent of all accidents.
A total of 145 accidents were attributed to poor tracks, constituting 27 per cent of the total accidents, while 117 accidents were due to defective rolling stock, equivalent to 21.95 per cent, he said.

According to him, 24 accidents were caused by speeding, 81 accidents due to wash away and four due to sabotage while 32 were due to other causes.

Opening the workshop, the Morogoro regional commissioner, Dr Steven Kebwe, said railway transport was the most dependable and efficient  mode in many developing countries, calling  on wananchi to protect its infrastructure, in the patriotic spirit.

Dr Kebwe called on the TRL  management to raise awareness to citizens especially in rural areas  which the rail line traverses, and sensitise them to be its protectors, for  some of the saboteurs are amongst them.

The TRL Safety Chief Officer, Mr Faustin Kataraiya, said the corporation was facing many challenges, but appreciated the government’s assistance. “From July this year, TRL will embark on a project to restore the current of Mkondoa River from Kiteto in Manyara region to Kilosa Morogoro region to its original state,”  he said. He also explained that the Dar es Salaam-Kilosa ;Igunga –Mpanda and Tabora –Mwanza  stretches  were badly in need of repairs.

CREDIT: THE CITIZEN