Railway services on the old railway line have been suspended temporarily after a cargo train rammed into another on Sunday evening in Makueni County.
The Kenya Railways train rammed into another cargo train belonging to Magadi Soda Company at Mtito Andei yesterday at 5pm.
The trains which were both heading to Mombasa from Nairobi, were empty at the time of the accident where there were no injuries reported. Only five wagons were damaged.
The accident was confirmed by the Kibwezi East Acting Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD), Godffrey Nderitu, who spoke to Kenya News Agency (KNA) on the telephone.
“The Kenya Railway cargo train that carries petroleum products was empty even as it rammed into the equally empty Magadi company train that carries soda ash,” Nderitu revealed.
On his part, the Kenya Railways OCPD Mtito Andei, Francis Kamau, said that they were waiting for cranes to remove the damaged wagons from the railway line.
“We have engineers ready to clear the five extensively damaged wagons. They are waiting for cranes,” said Kamau, while speaking to KNA on the telephone on Monday.
At the same time,Kamau said that the value of the damaged wagons will be known soon after the assessment by the engineers from Kenya Railways.
The Standard Gauge Railway continues to operate.
By Patrick Nyakundi
