Accra–Tema Passenger Train Derails After Collision With Stray Cattle
Hundreds of commuters stranded near Avenor as railway officials blame encroachment and animal activity on tracks for derailment
- Passenger train derails near Avenor after hitting two stray cattle on the tracks.
- Hundreds of commuters stranded, though no injuries were recorded.
- Railway officials cite encroachment and animal activity as growing safety threats.
Hundreds of commuters travelling from Tema to Accra were left stranded on Thursday morning after a passenger train derailed near Avenor following a collision with two stray cattle on the railway tracks.
The incident happened around 7:30 a.m., shortly after the four-coach train departed Avenor Station heading toward Odaw. According to eyewitnesses, the animals suddenly wandered onto the tracks, leaving the train operator with little time to avoid the collision.
The impact caused parts of the train to derail, abruptly halting the journey and forcing passengers — including workers and traders commuting into the capital — to disembark and search for alternative transport amid heavy traffic congestion.
Although no injuries were recorded, many passengers were left shaken by the incident. The two cattle died instantly.
An eyewitness, Alidu Shaibu, praised the train driver for reacting quickly to minimise the impact of the crash. He said the operator managed to slow the train significantly before the derailment, helping to prevent what could have been a major disaster.
Officials from the Ghana Railway Company Limited later described the incident as unfortunate and blamed increasing encroachment on railway lands, as well as the movement of animals along the tracks, for ongoing safety concerns.
Area Civil Engineer of the company, Daniel Asiedu, said the train was travelling from Tema to Accra when it struck a “huge cow,” leading to the derailment. He warned that unchecked human and animal activities within railway enclaves continue to threaten rail operations and public safety.
He added that additional security support may be needed to help clear encroachers and protect railway infrastructure.
Technical officers and engineers were deployed to the scene immediately after the incident to carry out emergency repair works, with officials expressing confidence that rail services would resume before the end of the day.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and as of Thursday afternoon, no one had come forward to claim ownership of the cattle.
