A train ferrying industrial products derailed in the Mackinnon area near Voi town, Taita Taveta County, on Thursday, April 13
Reports indicated the train ferrying products from Magadi Soda missed a rail file while speeding over the old metre gauge railway line.
It then landed on the ground by the side near the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
A witness told Kenyans.co.ke that seven of the fleet of wagons crashed and poured out the goods that had been carried on board.
"The cargo train accident happened around 11:30 am," a local reporter at the accident scene stated.
Voi town residents immediately rushed to the accident scene to offer assistance. Nonetheless, no casualties were recorded.
The train had covered well over 67 kilometres from Magadi Soda to Voi before it veered off the railways, scattering its wagon across the area.
Some wagons were damaged due to the inertia force of moving parts and the landing force.
Kenya Railways Corporation (KR) was yet to provide a comprehensive statement on the incident.
As a standard practice, Kenya Railway Corporation will also send a team of experts to investigate the accident to ascertain the cause of the accident and the damage incurred.
The accident report will outline the actual cause of the accident and determine possible mitigation measures that management may consider.
In September 2022, a Nairobi to Kisumu passenger train stalled at Tamu in Muhoroni, Kisumu County, after one of its wagons derailed.
It was noted that the train was making its second trip to Kisumu during the holiday period when it derailed.
Kenya Railways Corporation explained that the train carried 212 passengers when it derailed while negotiating a corner in Muhoroni.
KR, however, noted that the incident was minor, revealing that the accident resulted from ballast that had covered the railway line.
