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Locomotives, Railway Trucks and Wagons

Rail company supports community development

3rd August 2018 Train manufacturer Gibela launched its Make a Difference campaign, which recognises the importance of educational support at all levels in the communities neighbouring its Dunnottar factory, in Gauteng, in May. The company launched the campaign at an event at Mom Sebone Secondary School in... →

Rail infrastructure in state of neglect

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 3rd August 2018 South Africa’s railway infrastructure is in a state of neglect, says rail consultancy and rolling stock supplier African Railway Systems technical manager Dylan Knott. “Rail has been in decline for the past three decades, and with it, almost all the once thriving branch lines have closed. The... →

Photo by Creamer Media
BAD CONDITION Without direct investment in infrastructure, locomotives, rolling stock or skills, the future of the South African rail industry does not look positive

Road-rail vehicle innovator introduces RailBus

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 3rd August 2018 Olifantsfontein-based road-rail vehicle (RRV) manufacturer RailPro has developed a bimodal vehicle that transports people and goods on road and rail, says MD Ed Magan. The vehicle, called RailBus, was launched in June. →

Photo by Bloomberg
FACILITATING MOBILITY Thousands of rural dwellers are situated close to existing rail lines and the RailBus will allow for exploitation of underused rail routes

Forum to address rail maintenance and rehabilitation

4th August 2017 A delegation of international rail maintenance and rehabilitation professionals, together with an “unbeatable” line-up of thought leaders in Africa’s transport sector will be in Durban, South Africa in October to address challenges faced by the rail fraternity in Africa. →

First delivery of locomotives expected in Q4

By: Simone Liedtke 4th August 2017 Rail technology provider Bombardier Transportation (BT) will hand over the first of 240 Bombardier Traxx Africa locomotives to State-owned freight utility Transnet, during the fourth quarter of this year. →

Rail is the future of Africa’s industrialisation

4th August 2017 Rail infrastructure upgrades remain a core focus of the ongoing industrialisation of Africa, where the transportation of goods and commodities is often difficult and costly, owing to underinvestment in rail infrastructure, says multinational power and engine manufacturer and distributor Cummins. →

Station’s strategic location to improve corridor capacity

By: Simone Liedtke 4th August 2017 Rosmead station, in the Eastern Cape, was identified as strategic in improving operational capacity along the export corridor and forms part of Phase 1 of State-owned freight utility Transnet’s Port of Ngqura manganese export expansion project. →

Successful event to be held again next year

4th August 2017 Following the success of the Africa Rail exhibition and conference in 2017, the event will be held again on June 12 to 13 next year at the Sandton Convention Centre, in South Africa. →

LYC bearing range available from ISO Bearings in September

4th August 2017 With changes in South Africa’s economic landscape forcing many companies to increase their prices to meet their bottom line goals, bearings supplier ISO Bearings has remained undeterred, continuing to provide flexible pricing solutions that assist its customers in meeting business objectives. The... →

Analogue gauges outweigh benefits of electronic instrumentation

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2016 The structure and robustness of analogue pressure-type gauges, coupled with the guaranteed availability of spare parts for locomotives in South Africa, outweigh the benefits of electronic instrumentation that has to be sent away for repair or recalibration, says pressure and temperature... →

GAUGE PRODUCTION All SA Gauge gauges are sent for quality control before distribution

Custom-made hoses to be used by railway groups

4th November 2016 Benoni-based automotive tyre and industrial rubber products producer Dunlop Industrial Products has a high penetration in the African continent where it supplies custom-made solutions, such as the design and supply of vacuum and air brake hoses for State-owned utility Transnet, Passenger Rail... →

CUSTOM MADE Dunlop Industrial Products supply custom-made solutions for railway groups and companies globally.

Subcontractor working on expansion and skills development programmes

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2016 Tier-two subcontract manufacturer to original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) IEC Holden, which supplies electric motors and generators to the railway, power generation, oil and gas, and mining industries, is currently directly contracted to OEMs that supply the Transnet Freight Rail rail... →

PRODUCT SUPPLY A drive for electric freight locomotive, tested and ready for dispatch

Locomotive fleet to benefit from electromotive diesel technology

4th November 2016 A South African locomotive fleet that is powered by an electromotive diesel two piston V8, V12 and V16 diesel engine configuration will be the first to benefit from comprehensively equipped heavy diesel engine and component remanufacturing company Metric Automotive Engineering’s sophisticated... →

Photo by Duane Daws
IMPERATIVE STRATEGY Localisation of skills have been cited as a strategic imperative for the railway industry

New technology extended to wagon and passenger bogies

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2016 Having become the first rolling stock company in the southern hemisphere to pioneer its own fabricated lightweight, cost-competitive locomotive bogie, South Africa-based locomotives company DCD Rolling Stock is extending its technology to wagon and passenger coach bogies aimed at the global market. →

DCD ROLLING STOCK The company has moved away from the traditional casting-based bogie construction and designed its own fabricated bogies using hot rolled steel

Modified wagon designs to increase volumes per trip

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2016 By modifying construction materials and wagon design, original-equipment manufacturer Galison Group believes that the lighter weight of a wagon will significantly reduce transport and production costs, by enabling customers to increase their production volumes per wagon per trip. →

MODIFIED WAGON DESIGN The train system at Pulong copper mine will be a fully automated and driverless system

Transnet ranked a top employer in S Africa

4th November 2016 Last month, State-owned freight and logistics company Transnet was ranked one of South Africa’s top employers for providing its employees with an exceptional working environment. →

Welding certification to become unavoidable for rail industry

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2016 With infrastructure development planned to take place rapidly in the rail industry, the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) believes that EN 15085 certification is crucial to upholding the quality and safety of railway vehicles and components in the local industry. →

WELDING CERTIFICATION SAIW offers training, qualification and certification programmes to meet international requirements

Track system to benefit railway contractors

By: Simone Liedtke 4th November 2016 Railway track manufacturer Tubular Track adviser and business development head of T-Track Global Jaap van der Merwe believes that contractors awarded Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) tenders can use Tubular Track’s tubular modular track (TMT) to build and rebuild track and platforms... →

PRASA INTERCHANGE The Tubular Modular Track product allows for rebuilding and rehabilitation of railway tracks

University completes bogie certification tests

By: Dylan Slater 6th November 2015 In conjunction with the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Centre for Asset Integrity Management (C-AIM), UP’s business division, Business Enterprises, which is situated at UP, has completed a series of static and fatigue tests on a locally manufactured locomotive bogie as part of State-owned... →

TEST RIG The test involved a large-scale application of wire strain gauges, with simultaneous data logging of over 100 channels

Bearing company trials new product on railway vehicles

6th November 2015 Bearing company SKF’s intelligent bearing technology is being deployed on a railway vehicle in a new project to monitor axle bearings wirelessly. →

INTELLIGENT BEARING SKF’s intelligent bearing integrates a self-powered sensor and wireless device within a conventional bearing envelope

Locomotive autopilot achieves 100-million miles

6th November 2015 Multinational conglomerate and locomotive manufacturer General Electric (GE) Transportation announced last month that its locomotive auto-pilot control system Trip Optimizer has clocked 100-million auto-pilot miles in locomotives equipped with the software. →

Drive components tested on Russian locomotive

6th November 2015 With considerable investment in railway infrastructure upgrades in South Africa, drive components and systems company Voith is well-positioned to add substantial value to this market with its tried-and-trusted and internationally recognised product offering. →

HARSH TESTING The Russian locomotives will undergo a number of tests and certifications over a six-month period

Rail certification secures international orders

6th November 2015 Having received its manufacturing technology EN13261 certification in July, Germiston-based railway axle manufacturer Swasap is now able to supply to any European railway operator, and has since secured a significant order from French train company Bombardier – one of the third largest... →

MANUFACTURING FACILITY Swasap supplies Transnet with most of its axles

Rail system requires efficient streamlining, says consulting firm

6th November 2015 South Africa’s extensive railway system is an infrastructure requirement that cannot be overlooked, says engineering and consulting firm GIBB technical executive electrical engineer Dr Willem Sprong. →

ENHANCING OPERATIONS To be efficient, high levels of productivity with a minimum level of wasted effort or expense are required

Engine remanufacturer expands locomotives services

By: Dylan Slater 6th November 2015 Germiston-based large-engine remanufacturer Metric Automotive Engineering has invested in new equipment to extend its services to larger engines for the locomotives industry, says operations director Andrew Yorke. →

Metric Automotive Engineering operations director Andrew Yorke tells Engineering News about the company’s latest investment

Steam locomotive operator undertakes refurbishment contract

By: Dylan Slater 6th November 2015 Germiston-based nonprofit association and steam locomotive operator Reefsteamers Association is undertaking a dual refurbishment project on two mainline steam locomotives to return them to full operation. →

steam locomotive expert Shaun Ackerman tells Engineering News about Reefsteamers’ newly refurbished locomotive wheel lathe. Cameraperson: Dylan Slater.

KZN resignalling project design phase reaches completion

By: Ilan Solomons 7th November 2014 Rail technology manufacturer Bombardier Transportation South Africa (BTSA) is progressing well with State-owned mass transportation system operator Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) R1.1-billion resignalling project, in KwaZulu-Natal, BTSA sales head Aubrey Lekwane tells... →

INTERFLO 200 RAIL CONTROL SOLUTION The solution will enable a 2.5-minute headway, thereby eliminating bottlenecks while increasing safety and availability

Diesel locomotives remain popular in Africa

By: Ilan Solomons 7th November 2014 A 5 t and 8 t underground mining diesel locomotive were delivered to a large copper mining project in Kitwe, Zambia, in September by local original-equipment diesel locomotive manufacturer BG Locomotives Services, MD Dave Raper tells Engineering News. He says the increasing importance of the... →

AFRICAN OFFERING BG Locomotives Services is regularly deploying maintenance teams to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo

$13bn locomotives contract under way

By: Ilan Solomons 7th November 2014 Rail technology manufacturer Bombardier Transportation South Africa (BTSA) is undertaking the manufacturing of the first batch of the 240 TRAXX Africa locomotives for State-owned freight and logistics group Transnet Freight Rail, BTSA head of sales Aubrey Lekwane tells Engineering News. He says... →

TRAXX LOCOMOTIVES PROJECT The $13-billion contract is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019 and will source more than 60% of materials and services for the project locally

Consortium enhances companies’ operational efficiencies

By: Ilan Solomons 7th November 2014 Local original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Trident South Africa, underground railway control systems manufacturer Battery Electric (BE) and Southern Africa hydraulics engineering company Bearing Man Group (BMG) Hydraulics formed a consortium to improve and streamline the companies’ product and... →

Trident South Africa international marketing manager Simon Lewis discusses the new cooperation agreement between Trident, Battery Electric and the Bearing Man Group, as well as the company's expansion into the African and South American markets.

Company aims to supply rail industry with flexible conduit solutions

7th November 2014 Electrical, automation and mechanical products and equipment supplier Elquip Solutions introduced UK manufacturer Flexicon’s high-quality range of flexible conduit systems and components to the local market in August. “Elquip has had a long and proud association with Flexicon, as it is a highly... →

FLEXIBLE CONDUIT SOLUTIONS Flexicon has developed two product ranges namely metallic and non-metallic conduit solutions, which are available from 10 mm to 106 mm in diameter

R50m propulsion and control factory to open by year-end

By: Ilan Solomons 7th November 2014 Rail technology manufacturer Bombardier Transportation South Africa (BTSA) is set to open its R50-million propulsion and control factory in Germiston, on the East Rand, by the end of the year, BTSA head of sales Aubrey Lekwane tells Engineering News. “Our contract with State-owned freight and... →

AUBREY LEKWANE The propulsion and control factory is integral to Bombardier Transportation South Africa’s fulfilling its contract with Transnet

Shunting locomotive well suited to mining industry

7th November 2014 Rail solutions for short hauls are not commonly used on Southern African mines, but with technology available locally and significantly larger tonnages that can be moved quickly, efficiently and safely, there are good reasons to consider rail as part of a mine’s internal hauling infrastructure,... →

RS7S3C DC LOCOMOTIVE The locomotive is manufactured standard with a 521.9 kW C18 CAT engine and an in-house digital control system

PRASA train project on track

By: Ilan Solomons 7th November 2014 South African rail company Gibela Rail Transport Consortium is making steady progress on executing a R51-billion contract to supply the State-owned mass transportation system operator Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) with 600 new X'Ttrapolis Mega commuter trains to replace South... →

X'TRAPOLIS MEGA TRAIN The first of the 20 trains will be shipped to South Africa by the end of 2015

Improving railway systems for a growing number of projects

8th November 2013 To stay abreast of the growing number of railway projects in Africa, a ballast-less track system –Tubular Modular Track – has been created to provide continuous support for rails using skeletal precast modules in an articulated fixed geometry arrangement, says railway track manufacturer Tubular... →

German practices will aid Africa’s rail development

8th November 2013 The shift from road to rail will benefit passengers and help to reduce carbon emissions, while incorporation of best practices, as pioneered in Germany, will help with the regional integration and management of African railways. The second Annual African Railway Summit provided a complete package... →

Latest software solutions unveiled

8th November 2013 Railroads and rail shippers face ongoing challenges in lowering inventory and maintenance costs, while also increasing efficiencies so as to decrease unplanned downtime, which ultimately leads to higher revenue. To address the challenges that rail shippers face, a division of US conglomerate... →

Locomotives order to be filled by end-2016

8th November 2013 German transport and technology manufacturer Vossloh is continuing its internationalisation strategy and is set to start shipment of a large locomotives order in the second quarter of 2014, with the final shipment taking place by the end of 2016. Vossloh reports that in October it signed a... →

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