BATU GAJAH: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) today estimated total losses from the cargo train derailment here on Friday at approximately RM33 million.
Its chairman, Datuk Ir Nawawi Ahmad, said he could not give an exact figure as yet, as KTMB is currently focusing on raising and moving the carriages.
“We haven’t (exactly determined) total losses yet, as we are focusing on clearing the affected tracks. But if we were to calculate it (offhand), each locomotive is worth RM12 million and each carriage costs RM400,000.
“We also need to replace 100 meters of track due to severe damage. (We need to do this manually). Each concrete sleeper weighs 200 kilogrammes and requires about six people to replace it,” he said during a press conference at the scene today.
Nawawi added that the incident is the worst in KTMB’s 130-year history.
“I have reviewed all the train derailment incidents in the country, and this is the worst.
“It was like a ‘Lego’ (train set). (It’s fortunate) that the wagons were all empty,” Nawawi said, adding that 140 workers are currently working around-the-clock to remove the carriages.
It was reported that the cargo train derailed at Km200.33 at Kota Bharu, Lahat, near Batu Gajah, on Friday, disrupting KTMB’s commercial services on the north and south lines.
The cargo train was heading to Tasek from Kuang, Selangor, to collect a load of cement when the incident occurred at 3.15am.
Two locomotives and 25 empty carriages derailed and blocked two tracks, preventing all trains from continuing onwards.