14/02/2025
๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฑ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ-๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ
14th January, 2025
Staff Reporter | Ndola Times
Ndola, Zambia
The Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) has been forced to close down its Ndola-Sakania railway line which connects to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The ZRL says it has resolved to close down the busy goods transporting railway line due to developing sinkholes along the structure.
โInitial findings by the engineering team revealed that a sinkhole measuring approximately 20 metres in diameter and 15 metres in depth developed six metres away from the rail line,โ ZRL Public Relations Manager Sombe Longwani has revealed in a statement.
Longwani added that the concerns about the safety of operation grew after areas within reach of the railway line also developed started to develop cracks.
โIn addition, cracks were also observed 20 metres away from the sinkhole, with some cracks crossing the line. This raised concern about the ground stability and infrastructure integrity, leading to the closure of the railway line,โ she said.
Longwani added that the ZRL engineering team has hinted that the area maybe sitting on a limestone aquifer and lead to further risk if operations along the railway line continued.
โThe sinkhole poses significant safety risks to train operations and the surrounding community as further ground movement could lead to additional sinkhole formations,โ she said.
The Ndola-Sakania railway line links Zambia to the neighbouring DRC and serves as a vital route cross-border trade between the two countries.
