*NRC Commences training for AKTS Staff Ahead Of Service Resumption
*NSIB Blames Switch Mechanism Malfunction For Abuja-Kaduna Train Derailment
THE Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has cautioned railway workers to follow operational directives strictly to avoid further accidents.
Opeifa gave the caution ahead of an expected resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), just as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released a preliminary report on the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment at Asham Station on August 26.
An in-house investigation by the NRC was also presented and discussed with AKTS staff at Idu Station, with Opeifa reviewing recovery efforts, restoration progress and outlining plans for safe recommencement of services on the corridor.
He commended AKTS personnel for their coordination throughout the emergency response, assuring that the approved 95 per cent salary increase would be implemented before the end of the year.
The NRC boss cautioned locomotive drivers against issuing strike notices, stressing that such actions disrupted national service delivery.
The NSIB, in a preliminary report on the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment released on Wednesday, September 24, blamed the accident on a switch mechanism malfunction, saying the automatic crossing point switch mechanism at Asham Station, where the derailment occurred, was found unserviceable.
The locomotive and all seven coaches attached derailed and turned over, with passengers onboard escaping death by the whiskers.
According to the report: “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.
“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 Bureau recommended the NRC should ensure that all sleepers affected by derailments are replaced to guarantee track stability and prevent further derailments, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
It added: “The NRC should consider addressing all areas where cautionary advisories are issued to train drivers, to enhance operational safety and minimise the risk of accidents.
“The NRC should provide formal refresher training for NRC personnel to ensure staff remain up to date with safety procedures and operational best practices.”
It also 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.
It stated that the final report would present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance rail safety in Nigeri, noting: “Further investigation before the final report is released will include the examination of track alignment and infrastructure condition, inspection of locomotives and derailed coaches, brakes, wheels, bogies.
“The final report will reflect an analysis of train operation records, collection and reviewing passenger and eyewitness accounts and further analyse the broken point clip.’’
