The 55 passengers and 30 staff aboard a Rovos Rail train which derailedin Pretoria on Wednesday had been accounted for, said Rovos Rail owner Vos Rohen.

A woman died in the incident. Another, who was pregnant, went into labour. Neither she nor her baby survived.

Both had worked on the luxury train, which was on its way from Cape Town to Pretoria at the time.

Another five passengers were critically injured in the incident, nine were seriously hurt and 35 slightly hurt, said ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak.

One of the critically injured was airlifted to the Eugene Marais hospital, in Pretoria. Other injured passengers were taken to at least three hospitals in and around Pretoria.

Transnet spokesperson Nothemba Gnani said the train derailed when an electro-locomotive uncoupled from the coaches.

"The steam locomotive was supposed to take over when the accident occurred, that's what we know at the moment," she said.

Firefighters, police and sniffer dogs remained on the scene late on Wednesday.

The train, which fell on its side across the railway tracks, closed the line between Centurion and Pretoria. Metrorail put on buses for commuters left stranded at the Pretoria station.

Initial estimates were that it could take three days or more to clear the scene.

Metrorail spokesperson Nana Zenane said officials were clearing debris from the tracks and assessing the situation.

The investigation into the cause of the accident would take about five days.

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