Seems no maintenance

FURTHER to the train derailment article ("Train derails in Bay", June 27) and George van der Merwe's observations of the railway lines not having been inspected regularly or maintained properly ("Hope lessons learnt from derailment", July 2), I would support this theory wholeheartedly.

We have used the Shosholoza train to visit relatives in Johannesburg once or twice every year for the past three years now. There are certain sections of the tracks that are so bad that the carriages are thrown about so violently that one's drinks fall off the table and one has difficulty in maintaining one's balance.

I do not believe the railway lines undergo any form of regular inspection at all. My fear is that there will be loss of life should a derailment occur while the train is going at speed over these very bad sections.

This local derailment (thank goodness) happened at a slow speed. I would love to hear if any inspection procedures are in place, how often they are carried out and by whom.

I have my doubts that any of the above actually exists. The bad sections of track have been there for years now with no sign of improvement.

Bert van Vledder, Walmer, Port Elizabeth