Passengers left stranded after driver dumps train

THE end of his 14-hour shift led to the driver of a TransNamib passenger train leaving his passengers stranded for about two hours last week while they awaited the arrival of his replacement.

The train, which had been en route from Windhoek to Walvis Bay, was left standing about 60 kilometres outside Arandis during the early morning hours while the second driver was delayed in Swakopmund. TransNamib’s public relations officer, Olivia Kanyemba-Usiku, confirmed the incident yesterday, but said there was nothing wrong with it.”Maybe he was tired,” she told The Namibian.”He’s not allowed to work more than 14 hours.It’s normal practice,” she said.She did say, however, that this was the first time something like this had happened.The train travelling from Windhoek to Swakopmund departs from the capital at 20h00 and is scheduled to arrive at Walvis Bay the next morning at 07h00.Kanyemba-Usiku was unable to confirm the exact time at which the incident occurred.The Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) however reported that the driver refused to complete the journey apparently in protest of non-payment of overtime by TransNamib.TransNamib’s public relations officer, Olivia Kanyemba-Usiku, confirmed the incident yesterday, but said there was nothing wrong with it.”Maybe he was tired,” she told The Namibian. “He’s not allowed to work more than 14 hours.It’s normal practice,” she said.She did say, however, that this was the first time something like this had happened.The train travelling from Windhoek to Swakopmund departs from the capital at 20h00 and is scheduled to arrive at Walvis Bay the next morning at 07h00.Kanyemba-Usiku was unable to confirm the exact time at which the incident occurred.The Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) however reported that the driver refused to complete the journey apparently in protest of non-payment of overtime by TransNamib.