Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Four Britons escaped uninjured today after a restored vintage train carrying tourists on a luxury rail safari derailed in South Africa, killing two people.
Seventeen coaches of the Rovos Rail train, which was approaching the end of a journey from Cape Town, came off the tracks just outside a station in Pretoria.
Authorities said 25 other passengers were taken to hospital.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Four Britons were onboard, all of whom were uninjured."
The passengers also included 44 Americans, with four each from France and South Africa and three from Germany, said Rovos Rail managing director Rohan Vos.
Emergency worker Chris Botha said one of the victims went into labour immediately after the accident but neither she nor her baby survived.
Rovos Rail offers holiday trips across Africa that recall the golden age of travel, on trains which combine Edwardian period features such as wood panelling with modern conveniences such as air conditioning and hot showers.
The trains carry up to 72 passengers in 36 cabins. The routes were established in 1989 and run with restored locomotives.
The train travels around South Africa and to Namibia and Tanzania.
The Cape Town-Pretoria route costs between £1,000 and £2,000 per passenger for the two-day trip.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments