A luxury passenger train operated by Rovos Rail, carrying 47 international tourists, collided with a goods train owned by Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) near Gwanda in southern Zimbabwe earlier today.
The collision occurred in the Hantinya area, shortly after the Rovos train crossed the border from South Africa en route to Victoria Falls. The incident left several individuals injured, mostly crew members from both trains. The full number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.
Emergency responders, including the Gwanda Fire Brigade, arrived at the scene and worked to free trapped passengers from the wreckage. Witnesses reported scenes of confusion and panic, with sirens wailing and passengers—some bleeding and in shock—being helped from the damaged coaches.
The injured were transported to Gwanda Provincial Hospital. As of this report, the condition of the victims remains unknown.
While passengers escaped major harm, the damage to both trains was extensive. The front sections of the locomotives bore the brunt of the impact, and several carriages on the Rovos Rail train were visibly dented or derailed.
The cause of the crash has not been officially confirmed. Authorities are expected to open an investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision, including whether communication or signalling failures may have played a role.
Zimbabwe’s railway infrastructure has long suffered from chronic underinvestment and limited maintenance. Many of the country’s rail lines and rolling stock have not been significantly upgraded in decades. Corruption and poor oversight have also been cited in the past as contributing factors to the deterioration of national infrastructure, including transport systems.
The Zimbabwean government has previously acknowledged challenges within the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and related regional operators, but efforts to modernise the sector have been slow.
Rovos Rail, known for offering luxury train journeys across Southern Africa, has not yet issued a public statement. Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR), which operates the freight service involved in the collision, has also remained silent pending investigations.
Passengers were expected to be transferred to alternative transport as arrangements are made to resume their journey to Victoria Falls.
