The Accra terminal
Engineers of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) are not happy about what they described as the lack of proper maintenance of rail lines, especially the curves in the country.
They particularly made reference to the lines at Asoprochona (ASP)-Tema, Tema Community 1, which has at about 12 curves.
The engineers noted that the lack of maintenance of rail lines could lead to accidents.
These were contained in memo signed by William Ackun, the company’s Chief Engineer and addressed to the Managing Director.
It mentioned among other things that the Asoprochona (ASP) -Tema (TMA) track line covering a distance of about 7.1 km was opened to traffic in November 2010.
It said that 5 km portion of the rail line between Tema Railway Station and Community 1 was also reconstructed and opened to traffic in April 2013, adding that since the commissioning of the line, the tracks have not been effectively maintained.
He said the Clothoid transition curve method is alien to GRCL maintenance staff, noting that due to adoption of the method, the said lines have been abandoned.
It indicated that many countries prefer the manual cubic parabola transition curve.
The Cubic parabola design in Ghana is not outmoded but continues to be a key requirement of the North American Railways system comprising Mexico, USA and Canada, Japan and South Africa, the engineer explained.
Mr. William Ackun noted that all the curves should be examined and possibly modified to meet GRCL standards, adding that where they cannot be modified to the cubic parabola transition curve, they should be out rightly dismantled.
By Solomon Ofori
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