Passengers travelling on the Tema to Accra railway line were left stranded on Wednesday after a train derailed at Avenor in Accra following a collision with stray cattle that had wandered onto the tracks.
The incident reportedly occurred when two cows crossed onto the railway line while the train was en route from Tema to Accra, causing the locomotive to derail and disrupting services along the route.
Commuters on board the train were unable to continue their journey, leaving many stranded as officials worked to assess the situation and restore operations on the line. No casualties had been confirmed at the time of filing this report, although the incident caused significant disruption to passengers and railway operations.
The derailment has renewed concerns about safety along sections of the country’s railway network, particularly the recurring issue of animals straying onto rail tracks.
Rail transport between Tema and Accra forms part of government’s efforts to improve urban transportation and reduce traffic congestion within the capital and surrounding communities. The line serves hundreds of commuters daily, especially workers and traders travelling between Tema and Accra.
In recent years, authorities have undertaken rehabilitation works on parts of the railway network to revive rail transportation as a safer and more efficient alternative to road travel. However, encroachment on railway corridors and the movement of animals near tracks continue to pose operational and safety challenges.
Officials are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident while efforts continue to clear the tracks and restore normal train services.
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