The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Wednesday said that malfunctioned switch mechanism was responsible for the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment that occurred at Asham Station on Aug. 26.
This is contained in the bureau`s preliminary report made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The derailment involving train number AK 1, operated by Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), with locomotive registration CDD5c2 2701, had persons on board, including NRC crew members, security personnel and service staff.
According to the report, the Asham station automatic crossing point switch mechanism was found unserviceable.
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NSIB said, “The train derailed shortly after passing the track switch point at Asham station. The forward locomotive and seven adjoining coaches derailed. Twenty-one passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries, while no fatalities were recorded. (NAN)
“The occurrence was the second derailment at Asham Station within 13 months. Some sleepers at Asham Station that had been damaged in the previous occurrence were only patched.
“The Asham Station automatic crossing point switch mechanism was found unserviceable, and the switch point was manually operated and locked with the point clip. The point clip was broken.
“NRC personnel had only initial training and no formal refresher training.
“The Operational, Equipment and Maintenance (OEM) and spare parts were not readily accessible, while some instruments remained deferred and unserviceable, such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and clocks,” the report said.
The NSIB recommended that the NRC ensure that all sleepers affected by derailments are replaced to guarantee track stability and prevent further derailments.
The bureau advised the NRC to restore all defective equipment – communication equipment, Closed-Circuit Television cameras, clocks, and other critical instruments, to OEM standards, as they are vital for effective monitoring, safety, and operational efficiency. (NAN)
