A luxury private train owned by South Africa’s Rovos Rail, en route to Victoria Falls and carrying 47 international tourists, was involved in a head-on collision with a goods train operated by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) service early this morning.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the accident occurred at approximately 06:15 hours at the 132-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge railway line, just outside Gwanda. According to the police, 13 people were injured in the incident. The passenger train had 47 tourists and 31 crew members on board.
In a public notice issued on Twitter, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) clarified its non-involvement in the incident, stating:
“We have been inundated with inquiries concerning the collision of two trains in Gwanda today. We inform the nation that NRZ does not operate on that line as it is privately controlled. More so, the two trains are privately operated.”
The luxury Rovos Rail service is known for offering high-end, scenic railway experiences across Southern Africa. Today’s tragic event has drawn attention to operational safety on privately managed railway lines.
Authorities say investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collision. Further details will be released as they become available.
