To secure reliability of railway operations: Transport Minister urges public to collaborate with gov't enhance safety.

The meeting aimed at renewing commitments following the series of incidents threatening both public safety and the reliability of railway operations in the country.

Focused was on securing railway convoys and infrastructure, a task that has become increasingly urgent due to the frequency of vandalism, accidents, and disruptions to rail service.

Stakeholders in the railway transport sector during the meeting outlined major issues currently affecting the sector. The issues included collisions between trains and vehicles at level crossings, stone-throwing at passenger trains, theft, sabotage of equipment, unauthorised track obstructions by members of the public, and tragic accidents involving pedestrians.

The minister said “faced with this worrying situation, it is our collective responsibility to act through awareness-raising, prevention, and even repression measures, if necessary, to instill among passengers a culture of safety and compliance with traffic regulations around the railway”.

He emphasised on the need for immediate and collective action to address these threats. Minister Ngale Bibehe said “it will be up to everyone, collectively and individually, according to their area of expertise, to urgently implement measures to reduce to their simplest form the acts of vandalism and malicious acts that undermine safe railway operations, in accordance with the recommendations made following the work”.

According to data presented during the meeting, multiple incidents have occurred in recent months, endangering not just equipment but also the lives of passengers and railway personnel.

During the meeting, participants discussed on a shared commitment to take urgent steps toward safer railway operations, beyond sensitizing the population to abide by laws and avoid damaging rail infrastructure.

It was also disclosed that the government plans to improve security checks through boarding and enhance monitoring of railway activity nationwide. These measures are expected to reduce the overall rate of insecurity and improve public confidence in the rail transport system.

At the end of the meeting, the government reaffirmed its commitment to revitalize the rail sector as a key driver of national mobility and economic growth. The country’s transport boss and other stakeholders also promised to continue supporting and monitoring all necessary actions to ensure the continuity of rail service in Cameroon.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3450 of Friday May 16, 2025