URC to Install Automated Barriers After Deadly Mukono Train Crash

The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has announced a significant overhaul of safety protocols at railway level crossings nationwide. This initiative comes in response to a fatal accident in Mukono where a passenger train collided with a school bus, leading to the death of a teacher and injuries to numerous students.

As part of these safety upgrades, automated barrier systems, complete with boom gates, warning lights, and audible alarms, are slated for installation at high-risk level crossings in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono. These systems are designed to automatically deploy when a train is approaching, offering a critical warning to road users.

While the procurement of this advanced infrastructure is in its final stages, URC will be deploying additional personnel to manage crossings deemed high-risk as an immediate safety measure. The corporation is also collaborating with the Ministry of Works and Transport to improve road safety infrastructure around these crossings, including the construction of humps on highway approaches to reduce vehicle speeds.

The announcement aligns with directives from the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, who has ordered a nationwide safety audit of railway crossings and high-risk roads. The Minister also called for a review of school transport safety standards and strengthened enforcement of traffic rules.

The recent Mukono crash, which occurred when a bus carrying over 70 students and teachers failed to stop at a crossing, has highlighted the urgent need for these safety interventions. Eyewitnesses and residents have pointed to inadequate safety infrastructure and poor visibility at the crossing as contributing factors to the accident.

These measures aim to bolster safety and prevent future tragedies on Uganda’s railway network.

Source: Nile Post