Luanda, Jan. 3, 2025 (Lusa) - The Benguela Railway (CFB) has interrupted the operation of passenger and freight trains due to the theft of track fixing material over a length of 119 metres, the company announced on Friday.

According to Tiago Lisboa, infrastructure manager for Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), CFB's concessionaire, on Wednesday night the driver reported the incident, which prevented the train, carrying 62 passengers, from travelling from Luau, Moxico province, to Benguela.

Tiago Lisboa said that the teams went to the scene to investigate the situation and found that there were three vandalised sections on the Mina-Cango stretch, covering 119 metres.

The official emphasised the imminent risk of derailment and accidents, with the passage of any type of train being ‘impractical’.

"We had financial damage of around 45 million kwanzas (more than €43,000) and operational disruption," he said.

For his part, CFB's director of operations, Fábio de Carvalho, said that the state-owned company and the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium would pay more attention to these "areas of low communication" and would reinforce the call to the police to ensure greater vigilance on these sections.

Fábio de Carvalho said that the clamps and bolts securing the lines had been vandalised, putting not only passenger trains but also LAR freight trains transporting ‘hazardous chemical material’ at risk.

CFB's director of operations emphasised that the company has been running awareness campaigns since 2023, to create a greater culture of reporting these acts.

The 1,344 kilometre CFB connects the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.

The Angolan government recently approved a law on the crimes of vandalism of public goods and services in Angola, which provides for a prison sentence of between three and 25 years for anyone who vandalises public goods and services.

NME/AYLS // AYLS

Lusa