by David Benton
28.10.05 6.20am
JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of passengers, including two Japanese tourists, were injured when South Africa's luxury Blue Train smashed head-on into another train overnight.
The accident involving the Blue Train, which transports mostly wealthy tourists between Pretoria and Cape Town, occurred near De Aar in the semi-arid southern Karoo region.
Police said no one was killed. Local radio reported five people were seriously hurt.
"It was a head-on collision ... around 44 passengers and 30 staff on the Blue Train were slightly injured," said police spokesman Zandisile Makhuphula, adding most escaped serious harm.
The other train - the Trans Karoo express - was carrying 182 people, some of whom were also injured, he said.
The Blue Train is one of South Africa's top tourist attractions, transporting passengers across the country in old-fashioned luxury.
The train had been travelling to Cape Town, said Makhuphula.
The collision was caused by a signal failure, Sapa news agency said. No one at Spoornet, which operates the Blue Train, was immediately available for comment.
- REUTERS
JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of passengers, including two Japanese tourists, were injured when South Africa's luxury Blue Train smashed head-on into another train overnight.
The accident involving the Blue Train, which transports mostly wealthy tourists between Pretoria and Cape Town, occurred near De Aar in the semi-arid southern Karoo region.
Police said no one was killed. Local radio reported five people were seriously hurt.
"It was a head-on collision ... around 44 passengers and 30 staff on the Blue Train were slightly injured," said police spokesman Zandisile Makhuphula, adding most escaped serious harm.
The other train - the Trans Karoo express - was carrying 182 people, some of whom were also injured, he said.
The Blue Train is one of South Africa's top tourist attractions, transporting passengers across the country in old-fashioned luxury.
The train had been travelling to Cape Town, said Makhuphula.
The collision was caused by a signal failure, Sapa news agency said. No one at Spoornet, which operates the Blue Train, was immediately available for comment.
- REUTERS
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The only train trips I regret are the ones I didn't take.
The only train trips I regret are the ones I didn't take.
