KOTA KINABALU: The six motorcycle trolleys that stopped a runaway train in Tenom recently were already on the railway track and not thrown into the locomotive's path to stop it, says Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister said initial reports on the March 3 incident that trolley operators threw the motorcycle trolleys onto the tracks to stop the runaway Railbus RB8801 at the Kg Pangi station were not accurate.
"The motorcycle trolleys were already on the rail tracks. It was not thrown onto the track to stop the train," he said, adding that trolleys are a mode of transportation used by local communities.
Ewon said that railway tracks are reserve areas under the Sabah Railway Enactment 2017.
He said these are restricted zones and any activity within railway track areas require approval from the minister on the recommendation of state Railway Department director.
"The use of motorcycle trolleys on railway tracks without permission is an offence and may cause damage to the rails as well as jeopardise the safety of railway operations.
"This collision incident was reported to the state Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (March 11)," he said.
