Gwanda, Zimbabwe – A luxury Rovos Rail passenger train carrying 47 international tourists collided with a Bulawayo – Beitbridge Railway (BBR) goods train this morning outside Gwanda, Zimbabwe, in a shocking Easter Friday rail disaster.
The accident occurred in the Hantinya area, just outside Gwanda, when the Rovos Rail service – en route from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam – collided with the BBR goods train travelling in the opposite direction from Bulawayo to Beitbridge.
The collision left several crew members from both trains injured, with emergency services rushing to the scene.
Gwanda’s fire brigade and medical teams acted swiftly, rescuing trapped passengers from the wreckage and transporting the injured to Gwanda Provincial Hospital.
Fortunately, officials confirmed that none of the 47 tourists on board sustained life-threatening injuries.
At the time of publication, the full extent of the injuries remains unclear, and it is still unknown whether any fatalities occurred.
The cause of the collision is under investigation, with early concerns being raised over how such an incident could happen given that train schedules are usually tightly controlled at the station level.
Rail safety officials from both Zimbabwe and South Africa are expected to weigh in as the probe continues.
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Rovos Rail is renowned for offering one of the world’s most luxurious train travel experiences, complete with fine dining and elegant accommodation across scenic southern African routes.
The BBR freight train involved is a key component of the region’s trade corridor, transporting goods between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
This Easter weekend rail tragedy has sparked safety concerns across the region’s rail network. More updates will follow as authorities piece together what went wrong.
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