PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES

TRAIN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY RUNAWAY SHUNT MOVEMENT IN NDOLA.

LUSAKA, Monday ,December,11th 2023 – Zambia Railways Limited(ZRL) wishes to inform the general public that it experienced a train derailment on Sunday 10th December,2023 at 12:45hrs near Kafubu river bridge in Ndola due to a runaway shunt movement.

The preliminary findings indicate that the runaway shunt movement , with some wagons carrying coal ,sugar as well as empty wagons experienced a brake system failure at Bwana Mkubwa railway station in Ndola. As a result, the train accelerated towards Ndola Railway Station, and in the process derailed causing extensive damage to the equipment and rail infrastructure .
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The train crew sustained minor injuries and were immediately discharged after medical attention.

ZRL emergency team working with Zambia Police Service swiftly mobilized to provide security at the accident scene.

ZRL recovery team is already on site working to restore operations to normal and this is estimated to be done within 48hrs.

Editor’s note:
A shunt movement refers to the process of moving wagons within a rail yard or station. This process involves organisation, assembly or disassembly of trains and the loading or offloading of cargo. During a shunt movement ,a locomotive or shunting engine is used to push or pull the wagons into the desired positions.

Issued by:
Sombe Longwani Ng’onga
Acting Public Relations Manager
Zambia Railways Limited