AFTER Wednesday’s accident when a truck crashed into the old locomotive at Usakos, TransNamib said it was prepared to move the locomotive to a safer venue – the site of a proposed railway museum at the century-old municipal building.
Wednesday’s accident was the third time that the locomotive has been hit by a truck in the last four years.
TransNamib spokesman Ailly Hangula-Paulino told The Namibian that the locomotive was indeed a monument, but not part of TransNamib’s operation.
‘We welcome the idea of the museum, which can host historical objects including the locomotive. TransNamib will assist, as part of its corporate social responsibility, to ensure that the locomotive is placed in a safe and secure place for the benefit of the future generations,’ she said.
On Thursday, Usakos CEO Joseph Jantze said the Town Council hoped that this would be the last accident in which the locomotive was involved, and that the incident would convince TransNamib to move it to the proposed site.
‘The problem is really not about where the locomotive stands, but rather trucks losing control. Before, the trucks would hit the station building, and if the locomotive was not there, a truck simply would hit another object or even a train passing through the station with disastrous effects. Clearly this is a safety issue for road users,’ said Hangula-Paulino
She could not say when TransNamib would move the locomotive.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
