Fatal incident on Zambia Railways line sparks public concern over braking systems and ageing rail infrastructure
A tragic rail incident in Zambia’s Kafue area has claimed the lives of two people after a runaway coal wagon struck pedestrians along the railway line.
According to a joint statement issued by the Zambia Police Service and Zambia Railways Limited, Goods Train No. 526, hauled by Locomotive No. 2601 and consisting of 20 coal wagons, experienced an accidental wagon separation on Saturday morning while travelling between Chipongwe and Lilayi in Lusaka.
The last loaded coal wagon reportedly became detached from the train and continued moving uncontrolled in a southerly direction.
The runaway wagon passed through Chipongwe Station before proceeding towards Kafue, eventually coming to a stop between the Kafue and Nega Nega section. However, shortly before reaching Kafue Bridge, the wagon struck two pedestrians, an adult man and woman, resulting in their deaths at the scene.
The Zambia Police Service and Zambia Railways Limited expressed their sincere condolences to the bereaved families.
The incident has, however, sparked public concern, with some citizens questioning how a detached wagon could continue travelling over such a distance. Commenting on the incident, one member of the public, Sylvester Chulu, said: “A wagon that parts from a train is supposed to stop on its own using the vacuum brake.”
The accident has renewed attention on rail safety and infrastructure maintenance in Zambia. While runaway wagon incidents are relatively uncommon, rail accidents and derailments have occurred periodically across the country’s railway network, often linked to ageing infrastructure, maintenance challenges and operational constraints.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the wagon separation and determine whether any mechanical or operational failures contributed to the tragedy.