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PRASA appoints acting chief procurement officer

By: Donna Slater 7th July 2020 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has appointed Willie Mathebula acting group chief procurement officer, with effect from July 7. He assumes the position which has been left vacant by the departure of previous incumbent Keabetswe Mpane. →

Alstom launches new Mastria mobility orchestration solution

By: Schalk Burger 3rd July 2020 Transport and rail multinational Alstom has launched a new version of multimodal supervision and mobility orchestration solution Mastria, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide operators and transport authorities with enhanced passenger flow management tools. The solution allows... →

Transnet appoints new CFO

By: Donna Slater 1st July 2020 State-owned freight logistics company Transnet has appointed Nonkululeko Dlamini group CFO, with effect from July 1. Dlamini, who will also serve as an executive director on the Transnet board, is a seasoned executive, with almost 20 years’ experience in financial roles at State-owned companies,... →

Grindrod notes impact of lockdown on its businesses

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th June 2020 JSE-listed Grindrod’s trading in the first quarter of this year was strong through most of its businesses, the company said in a pre-close business update on June 26. It noted, however, that Covid-19-related lockdowns in Southern African countries impacted significantly on the ability of many of... →

Transnet, Hawks' joint efforts lead to arrest of petroleum, rail equipment thieves

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th June 2020 South African rail, port and pipeline company Transnet has welcomed arrests made in connection with the theft of petroleum products and rail equipment. These arrest were achieved through a join security operation between the company and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks),... →

Mpondo institutes investigation into leak of confidential PRASA documents

By: Simone Liedtke 22nd June 2020 Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo has ordered an investigation into the illegal leaking of confidential company documents related to a security tender. Mpondo has directed the acting head of PRASA Security, Brigadier General (Ret) Tebogo Rakau, to... →

Intelligent transport system community severely impacted on by Covid-19

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the local intelligent transport system (ITS) community, says Intelligent Transport Society South Africa (ITSSA) CEO Dr Paul Vorster. The ITTSA conducted a survey among its members on the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. →

Collaborative effort to unblock chronic congestion at SA’s busiest port

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2020 New equipment, improved access roads, synchronised, longer operating hours and a truck booking system are all in the works for the heavily congested Port of Durban, says Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Port of Durban GM Moshe Motlohi. The country’s busiest port has long been criticised... →

Transnet implements lifestyle audits

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th June 2020 State-owned Transnet has instituted a process of lifestyle audits for its employees, as part of its efforts to ensure high standards of ethics and integrity. Senior management, including executive management, are the first category of employees to undergo the initial phase of the audit. →

DoT unveils plans for new auto terminal at Durban, branch line concessioning

By: Irma Venter 12th June 2020 The Department of Transport (DoT) intends to take over the functioning of struggling integrated public transport networks (IPTNs) in five cities, with six cities currently operating these systems, says Department of Transport director-general Alec Moemi. IPTNs should, ideally, incorporate bus... →

Expected decline in safety related rail incidents

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2020 The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) expects that an analysis of railway safety incidents in April and May will reveal a declining trend in some categories of operational occurrence since some railway operations were suspended during levels 4 and 5 of the Covid-19 national lockdown. As legislated,... →

Photo by Creamer Media
WALKING THE LINE Although there have been less operational occurrences throughout the lockdown, safe railway behaviour promotion has been augmented for rail employees and the general public

Rail needs innovative risk-sharing structures

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2020 African railway owners and operators should consider linking freight and passenger rail services as a way of diversifying the risks and rewards that have become evident in these systems on the back of the Covid-19 crisis, says Development Bank of Southern Africa transport, logistics and bulk... →

Photo by Creamer Media
SHOULDERING THE LOAD While passenger rail suffered losses, freight rail enjoyed increased demand throughout the Covid-19 lockdown

Gautrain takes a knock to protect customer base

By: Darren Parker 12th June 2020 Gautrain rapid-rail network operator Bombela Concession Company has maintained or, in some cases, increased Gautrain operational capacity despite low passenger numbers. “While maintaining or even increasing capacity at a time when demand has reduced goes against commercial logic, it makes perfect... →

STAYING ON TRACK The Gautrain has continued to operate at full capacity despite experiencing a significant reduction in paying customers during lockdown

Trucking regulations harmonisation, digitalisation to aid Covid-19 fight, says World Bank

By: Irma Venter 10th June 2020 The World Bank Group advises ports to rapidly increase their digitalisation efforts over the short to medium term – one to six months – in an effort to reduce the frequency of people- and paper-based contact, says World Bank Group global lead for transport connectivity and regional integration,... →

National Planning Commission proposes SOE holding company model to help shield entities from political meddling

By: Terence Creamer 10th June 2020 South Africa’s National Planning Commission (NPC) is recommending the creation of a comprehensive State-owned enterprise (SOE) holding company, with a commercial company structure, to help protect SOEs from political interference. The recommendation is contained in a draft position paper that... →

The NPC position paper makes recommendations following an assessment of the contribution of Eskom, Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa to the NDP's Vision 2030

Transnet reopens Pretoria freight line

By: Simone Liedtke 8th June 2020 State-owned Transnet has reopened its freight line from the Pretoria complex to Pyramid station, following years of closure owing to challenges with cable theft and sabotage. The line has been out of operation since August 2014 owing to the theft of signaling equipment and overhead track... →

PRASA dismisses four senior officials over procurement irregularities

By: Donna Slater 8th June 2020 Following allegations of impropriety in the awarding of security-related tenders, and a disciplinary inquiry, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has dismissed four senior officials in its protection services department, who have been found guilty of alleged procurement... →

PRASA raids illicit scrap metal trader, makes arrests

By: Donna Slater 3rd June 2020 Having been victim to an alarming increase in cases of infrastructure vandalism to its overhead electrical lines, electrical substations and station buildings, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) security team has seized about R10-million worth of stolen cables and other rail... →

Transnet meets with AMSA to talk freight issues, unlocking more value

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd June 2020 Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has met with ArcelorMittal South Africa to address concerns raised by the steel producer regarding TFR’s impact on its business operations. This forms part of TFR’s efforts to improve efficiencies and productivity, especially when freight issues are contributing to... →

Gautrain extends operating hours

By: Donna Slater 1st June 2020 The Gautrain will, from June 1, expand its operating hours for the train service, in line with the easing of travel restrictions. Trains will operate daily, with the first trains departing from end stations at 05:30 and the last trains departing from these stations at 20:30. →

PRASA not ready to resume commuter operations under Covid-19 level 3, says Mbalula

By: African News Agency 1st June 2020 While the Gautrain will resume its OR Tambo International Airport service when the coronavirus (Covid-19) level 3 regulations come into effect on June 1, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is not yet ready to resume Metrorail commuter services, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula... →

PRASA administrator announces new permanent executive appointments

By: Simone Liedtke 29th May 2020 Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo on May 29 announced new permanent executive appointments to the State-owned rail entity. The appointments are the culmination of a rigorous process, overseen by external recruitment agencies, as well as experts in... →

DHL makes acquisition to grow e-commerce footprint in Africa

By: Irma Venter 29th May 2020 DHL Express has acquired a minority stake in Link Commerce, the UK-based e-commerce firm that helped the logistics company develop its DHL Africa eShop platform. The acquisition demonstrates the company’s commitment to growing e-commerce in Africa, says DHL Express sub-Saharan Africa CEO Hennie... →

Transnet reports recovery in some units, but still expects big Covid-19 revenue hit

By: Terence Creamer 26th May 2020 State-owned freight logistics group Transnet reports that there has been a recovery in some of its operations since the easing of lockdown restrictions and is increasing tending towards an “optimistic” recovery scenario for many of its units – a scenario that assumes a ramp-up to full operations... →

Transnet converts healthcare trains to bolster Covid-19 testing in underserviced areas

By: Donna Slater 14th May 2020 State-owned Transnet’s corporate social investment unit Transnet Foundation has converted two of its healthcare trains, Phelophepa I and II, into mobile Covid-19 testing stations, The trains will be used to increase testing for Covid-19 in some underserviced areas in the Eastern Cape and... →

Gautrain delays yearly fare increase owing to Covid-19

By: Simone Liedtke 13th May 2020 The Gautrain will not be increasing its fares in June this year, as would normally have been the case. Instead, the Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company will be delaying the fare increase to later in the year once more accurate information is available as to when the lockdown... →

DoT unveils plans for new auto terminal at Durban, branch line concessioning

By: Irma Venter 12th May 2020 The Department of Transport (DoT) intends to take over the functioning of struggling integrated public transport networks (IPTNs) in five cities, with six cities currently operating these systems, says Department of Transport director-general Alec Moemi. IPTNs should, ideally, incorporate bus... →

Five things public transport can do to help flatten the curve

By: Irma Venter 8th May 2020 Public transport has emerged as a central concern in the fight against the transmission of Covid-19, says University of Pretoria Centre for Transport Development’s Christo Venter. Vehicles and transport hubs are ideal places for infections to spread, leading to the shutdown of transport services... →

Christo Venter

PRASA turnaround under way despite delays

By: Simone Liedtke 7th May 2020 The turnaround of State-owned Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is on track, albeit with delays, in part owing to the situation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo has revealed. In a webinar on May 7, he lamented that the passenger rail agency had... →

PRASA operations to resume under lockdown Level 3

By: Simone Liedtke 7th May 2020 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) operations are set to resume under Lockdown Alert Level 3, administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo confirmed in a webinar on May 7. The passenger rail agency terminated all services during the initial lockdown period (Level 5), and has continued to do... →

Resgen enters into debt deal to fund rail link for Boikarabelo

By: Donna Slater 5th May 2020 JSE-listed energy resources company Resource Generation (Resgen) reports that its subsidiary, Ledjadja Coal has entered into nonbinding equity and debt term sheets with Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund 2 SA (PAIDF2SA) and Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund 2 limited liability... →

Gautrain reopens with disinfectant spray booths, regular sanitising

By: Irma Venter 4th May 2020 The Gautrain resumed service, albeit limited, on May 4, following the suspension of all services at the end of March owing to the national Covid-19 lockdown. Trains will operate daily between 05h30 to 09h30 and 15h00 to 19h00. →

Gautrain acting COO Tshepo Kgobe on the operations of the Gautrain as from May 4

Blue Train suspends operation until end June, offers ticket deferral options

By: Donna Slater 30th April 2020 Luxury train service, The Blue Train, is extending its current suspension of services, which were supposed to resume on April 30, to June 30, amid the nationwide lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Blue Train decided on the further suspension after a further analysis of the... →

TMH's Ivolga trains equipped to help curb spread of Covid-19

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 30th April 2020 The technical solutions implemented in Ivolga passenger trains, made in Russia by rail and urban transport manufacturer Transmashholding (TMH), are helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other infections. All Ivolga passenger electric trains feature a heating, ventilation, and air... →

TMH Ivolga Passenger Train

Saipem-led consortium picked as preferred bidder for Egypt rail project

By: Reuters 9th April 2020 Italian energy contractor Saipem has been chosen as preferred bidder to head a consortium to rebuild a railway line in Egypt, Egyptian phosphorus group Waphco said in a statement. If the contract is awarded, the project would involve developing a cargo and passenger railway line to connect a... →

TFR appoints new CEO

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th April 2020 University of Free State chancellor Bonang Mohale has welcomed the appointment of Sizakele Mzimela as CEO of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), as of April 1. Mohale indicated that “a better person could not have been found for the job”, noting Mzimela’s successful time at South African Airways and SA... →

UNTU calls for PPE for Transnet employees as iron ore line reopens

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 30th March 2020 The United National Transport Union (UNTU) has acknowledged the decision of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to reopen the iron ore rail line operated by State-owned Transnet. This will require Transnet employees from various divisions to be ready to report for duty from March... →

Transnet

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