A cargo train loaded with bauxite yesterday derailed at the New Takoradi rail level crossing site of the Takoradi Harbour, following a crash with a Benz truck.

The train was carrying bauxite while the truck was loaded with bags of cement.

No casualty was recorded and both drivers escaped unhurt. The derailment has led to a halt in activities at the bauxite discharge point and caused the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) to lose millions of cedis due to loss of production hours.

Traffic activities at the site have grounded to a halt while efforts are underway to dispatch a crane from Tarkwa to rectify the situation.

The train is dented and the Benz severely damaged. Cement amounting to millions of cedis was also destroyed. The Deputy Managing Director in-charge of operations of the GRC, Mr Rufus Quaye, said the accident has cost the company millions of dollars.

He said the brake band of the train is damaged and needs to be repaired.

Mr Quaye said as a result of the accident, 1,800 tonnes of bauxite cannot be off-loaded.

DSP Emmanuel Dovlo of the Railways and Harbour Police said his outfit is conducting investigations into the cause of the accident.

He cautioned drivers to be extra careful when approaching rail-level crossings.

The driver of the Benz truck, with registration number AS 5580Q, S. Musa, said he did not notice the attendant at the rail level crossing till he heard a big bang on his truck.

According to an eyewitness, the driver of the truck disregarded a signal from the rail level crossing attendant.

It said since it was in the early hours of the morning, visibility was poor and that might have contributed to the accident.

At the time of going to press, the head of the Benz truck has been towed The cement has also been loaded into another truck.

Work is also going on to repair the railroad to enable rail traffic to resume.