Luxury train operator Rovos Rail has confirmed that its operations remain on schedule following an accident involving one of its trains on Sunday, March 1.
The company reassured passengers and travel partners that all planned departures are proceeding as arranged, adding that safety protocols were swiftly activated in response to the incident. Further details surrounding the accident are being assessed as investigations continue.
According to tourismupdate.com, at 04h45, a Rovos Rail train, southbound from Windhoek, was involved in an accident at Naute approximately 285km from Ariamsvlei and the South African border.
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Rovos Rail confirmed that the driver and a TransNamib pilot were killed in the incident. No passengers or other Rovos Rail staff were injured, the company added.
The accident was caused by a washaway of the last span of a bridge, resulting in the loss of two locomotives and two utility coaches. The automatic brake system stopped the train to avoid further damage.
“For the guests involved in the current journey, we arranged for them to fly from Upington to Cape Town yesterday where they were met personally by our COO Tiffany Vos-Thane. We have secured accommodation at a local hotel and organised an alternative excursion programme for the next two days until the journey’s original completion date on Wednesday, March 4. At that point, guests will proceed with their planned onward travel,” Liezl Maclean, Communications Manager at Rovos Rail, told Tourism Update.
