Train driver abandons train

TRANSNAMIB train passengers travelling from Walvis Bay to Windhoek on Wednesday were left in limbo when the train came to a sudden halt some 30 km outside Windhoek at around 06h00.

According to one passenger the train stopped at Otjihavara close to Okapuka Lodge. “After we realised the train had stopped for a longer period than usual some of us went to the train driver to find out what was happening, but all he could say was that he was off duty from there on and could not go any further until another driver came and took over,” the person said.”I am calling so that you can please call TransNamib and alert them about the situation here.We have been sitting in this place since six o’clock this morning, we are tired, thirsty and hungry and it seems there is no communication between the staff here and their offices back in Windhoek,” a very indignant passenger complained to The Namibian at 09h00 on Wednesday.The passenger added that when they called the TransNamib offices in Windhoek they could not get through to anybody, and were transferred from one department to the other.When reached for comment, TransNamib spokesperson Ritha Nghitwiika said she did not know about the situation and could not understand why passengers were calling the media instead of the TransNamib offices.However, Nghitwiika later said that there had been a technical problem with the locomotive and another locomotive had to be sent from Windhoek.She was not aware of complaints about the driver’s behaviour, but did acknowledge that drivers are only allowed to work for a certain number of hours before being relieved by another driver.The train eventually arrived in Windhoek at 12h00.Even then, the passengers were unhappy with the driver’s conduct.”When we finally got to Windhoek, the train driver couldn’t even take us to the station, he took his bag and left us at a stop before the passenger station, until another driver came to drive us out,” complained another passenger.In July, a similar thing happened on a journey from Walvis Bay to Windhoek, when the train stopped between Usakos and Karibib at 02h05 and stood there for more than three hours.”After we realised the train had stopped for a longer period than usual some of us went to the train driver to find out what was happening, but all he could say was that he was off duty from there on and could not go any further until another driver came and took over,” the person said.”I am calling so that you can please call TransNamib and alert them about the situation here.We have been sitting in this place since six o’clock this morning, we are tired, thirsty and hungry and it seems there is no communication between the staff here and their offices back in Windhoek,” a very indignant passenger complained to The Namibian at 09h00 on Wednesday.The passenger added that when they called the TransNamib offices in Windhoek they could not get through to anybody, and were transferred from one department to the other.When reached for comment, TransNamib spokesperson Ritha Nghitwiika said she did not know about the situation and could not understand why passengers were calling the media instead of the TransNamib offices.However, Nghitwiika later said that there had been a technical problem with the locomotive and another locomotive had to be sent from Windhoek.She was not aware of complaints about the driver’s behaviour, but did acknowledge that drivers are only allowed to work for a certain number of hours before being relieved by another driver.The train eventually arrived in Windhoek at 12h00.Even then, the passengers were unhappy with the driver’s conduct.”When we finally got to Windhoek, the train driver couldn’t even take us to the station, he took his bag and left us at a stop before the passenger station, until another driver came to drive us out,” complained another passenger.In July, a similar thing happened on a journey from Walvis Bay to Windhoek, when the train stopped between Usakos and Karibib at 02h05 and stood there for more than three hours.