KOTA KINABALU: An internal investigation has found negligence in the runaway train incident along the Tenom-Pangi route.
The Sabah Railway Department’s board of enquiry, held on March 9, found that the train driver failed to conduct an inspection before commencing the journey from Tenom town.
Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the driver also failed to close the isolating valve at the Tenom End Driving Cab and did not conduct a dynamic test to ensure the braking system was functioning properly.
“This negligence caused the braking system of Railbus RB8801 to not function fully, which subsequently resulted in the collision with the motorcycle trolleys at KM134/4,” he said in a statement after attending the Sabah Railway Department’s buka puasa event at Tanjung Aru station here Wednesday (March 12).
In the March 3 incident, at least a dozen passengers, mostly primary school teachers, escaped unhurt.
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Ewon said that after the train stopped at KM133/8, the driver inspected and corrected the position of the isolating valve.
“A test run conducted afterwards found that the braking system was functioning properly, enabling the train to return to Tenom Station without the need for rescue or towing by another locomotive.
“An inspection by the Assistant Engineer shortly after the train returned to the Tenom station confirmed that the braking system was fully operational,” Ewon added.
He said that railway services resumed normal operations on March 4 using the same vehicle, and to date has been operating without any issues.
“The BOE investigation was carried out comprehensively, covering the incident report, statements from staff of the Mechanical Engineering Division, recordings from the Digital Mobile Video Recorder (DMVR) on the vehicle, as well as technical inspections and simulations at the incident location.
He said based on the Internal Investigation Committee’s decision, disciplinary action will be taken against the driver in accordance with the Sabah State Public Service Regulations (PPPANS) 2008 [Code of Conduct Article 208(2)(j)] for negligence in carrying out his duties.
