The Minister of Railways Development, John Peter Amewu, has revealed that the train imported from Poland, which was involved in an accident during a self-acceptance test, is set to be operational by the second week of June. The government anticipates receiving new parts for repairs shortly.
During a test run on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, the train collided with a stationary track, raising concerns about its readiness for service.
As a result of the incident, the driver of the Hyundai truck involved in the collision was arrested and subsequently sentenced to six months in jail.
In an exclusive interview with Asaase Radio’s Nana Oye Ankrah, Amewu shared that engineers are diligently working on repairing the damaged train. He assured that efforts are underway to ensure the train’s functionality and safety before commissioning it for service.
“The train will bridge very soon. It was quite unfortunate that we had that nasty scene where the train had to run into a stationary vehicle. I think you were all there to see it,” Amewu stated.
“So what we have done now is order the parts. The parts will be brought in in the next three, or four weeks. The area or the part that got damaged,” he continued.
The minister also projected that the commissioning of the line could take place anywhere from the first to the second week of June, stressing the importance of the timely arrival of the parts for the restoration process.
“We still estimate that commissioning of the line will be coming in any time from the first week to the second week in June. So the arrival of the parts is what we are waiting for. Immediately we get the parts in, the train will be pulled back too,” Amewu said.
The Tema-Mpakadan railway line aims to enhance the smooth transportation of goods and travelers, fostering economic growth and regional integration.
Despite recognizing the setback triggered by the accident, Amewu expressed faith in the repair team’s expertise to fix the train.
He guaranteed the public of the government’s dedication to promptly finishing the repairs and putting the train into operation.