Railway ‘potholes’ threaten trains
Rob Phillips investigates the disturbing state of the rotten railway sleepers on the line near Nkwaleni
Many wooden sleepers have been reduced to splinters
In half a kilometre of railway line, 116 of 655 wooden sleepers are in need of replacement
Rotting railway sleepers put heavily loaded trains at risk of derailment.
This is the belief of concerned citizen, Rob Phillips. ‘In the past two years I have only seen very few sleepers replaced. ‘If maintenance is not done then this line is an accident waiting to happen,' he said.
Phillips lives 30km outside Empangeni, close to the Transnet train line at Mfuli.
He walks the track daily, as he is an avid bird watcher.
On close inspection of the railway line one can see that numerous wooden sleepers are rotten or have disintegrated completely.
Tragedy looms
In half a kilometre, containing 655 sleepers, Phillips counted 116 sleepers which need replacement.
The wooden sleepers are often situated on corners.
The line at Mfuli is in places flanked by a sharp drop into the valley below. ‘The loaded trains sway ominously as they travel over the rotten sleepers,’ said Phillips.
Transnet Freight Rail Head of Communications and Media Sandile Simelane expressed concerned over the report.
However he said that further investigation would have to be done before he could issue a statement.
Meanwhile, Phillips is praying that no tragedy occurs before action is taken.
