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Rail News

Technology integration crucial

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 14th June 2019 Digital technology solutions provider Etion Digitise CE Koketso Seripe is set to deliver a presentation at the Africa Rail exhibition and conference, which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Gauteng, on June 19 and 20. Seripe will deliver his presentation, titled ‘A seamless... →

Event will address challenges facing African rail industries

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 14th June 2019 Several challenges face Africa’s rail industries, and global events company Terrapinn will host the twenty-second annual Africa Rail exhibition and conference, which aims to tackle these challenges. Terrapinn business development manager Athena Maharaj tells Engineering News that there is a... →

EXHIBITION BONANZA Terrapinn is expecting 250 exhibitors at Africa Rail

Government departments need to align to revive industry – RRA

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 14th June 2019 There is no alignment in terms of the objectives of the local rail industry, and the country lacks a united vision, says the Railroad Association of South Africa (RRA) CEO Mesela Nhlapo. Currently, the visions of the different government departments are not aligning, which leads to policies being... →

RAIL’S RIGHTFUL PLACE The Railroad Association of South Africa works to promote and protect the interests of its members and the rail industry

Transnet Freight Rail Breakthrough Technologies

14th June 2019 In a context of increasing competition, growing demand and tighter management of operational and capital costs, freight railways are constantly looking for ways to increase efficiency by boosting throughput and cutting costs. Below are several breakthrough technologies that have been developed... →

Defining the heavy-haul railway of the future

14th June 2019 Heavy-haul railways are under constant pressure to optimise operational efficiency, a factor that has led the sector to spearhead many new technologies. Michael Roney, special advisor to the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA), explains in this article, originally published in the... →

South Africans to prepare ‘smart heavy haul industry’ roadmap

14th June 2019 The South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) hosted a three-day technical workshop in Johannesburg in late 2018 as part of preparations for the 2019 International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) conference to be held in Narvik, Norway, from June 10 to 14. Ten countries are a part of the IHHA... →

Longest Production Train in the World

14th June 2019 In an unprecedented move, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) successfully ran a 375 wagon manganese train. The testing of the train took place on Wednesday, 05 September 2018 over a distance of around 861 km, from Sishen to Saldanha. The test train is four (4) kilometres long and will be a production... →

Heavy Haul Game Changer

12th June 2019 International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) chairperson Brian Monakali, who is also acting Rail Network GM at South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail, believes collaboration is the key to ensuring that global heavy haul operators mitigate the risks associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution... →

IHHA chairperson Brian Monakali outlines the risks and opportunities posed to heavy haul railways by the unfolding Fourth Industrial Revolution. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Christo Greyling.

PRASA must move to Public Enterprises and return to Transnet, says union

By: Irma Venter 11th June 2019 The United National Transport Union (Untu) wants the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa to be moved from the Department of Transport to the Department of Public Enterprises, says Untu spokesperson Sonja Carstens. This will place the entity where it belongs – under the same management as other... →

Photo by UNTU
Rail infrastructure in Philippi in the Western Cape

Uganda plans to restore railway after high-speed upgrade delays

By: Bloomberg 7th June 2019 Uganda plans to invest $205-million in restoring a railway from the capital Kampala to the Kenyan border following delays to securing funding for a planned high-speed alternative to the route. The move will boost monthly freight capacity to 120 000 metric tons from the current 20 000 tons by... →

Suspended RSR CEO resigns

By: Simone Liedtke 6th June 2019 Railway Safety Regulator CEO Nkululeko Poya has resigned. The embattled CEO’s resignation comes after he was placed on suspension in November 2017. →

Faulty Transnet tamping machine blamed for collision that injured 66 people

By: News24Wire 6th June 2019 A Transnet Freight Rail tamping machine has been blamed for causing a crash, involving a new Metrorail train, that injured 64 passengers and two crew members on Saturday. Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula released the preliminary report of the collision, which happened at the Eerste Fabrieke... →

Guinea iron-ore prospectors set sights on ArcelorMittal rail

By: Reuters 6th June 2019 The race to mine Guinea's iron-ore has started although the focus is not on its giant Simandou deposits but on smaller finds whose output could be transported via Liberia if ArcelorMittal shares its railway, banking and industry sources said. Guinea's aspirations to develop Simandou, the world's... →

TFR to conduct yearly maintenance shutdown on MMC line this month

By: Simone Liedtke 5th June 2019 State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) will be conducting its yearly maintenance shutdown on the Mineral Mining and Chrome (MMC) line from June 4 to 10. The shutdown will allow TFR to undertake maintenance work that cannot take place during normal occupational conditions. →

Southern Palace-led consortium named preferred bidder for R2.5bn Tambo Springs container terminal

By: Terence Creamer 5th June 2019 State-owned freight logistics utility Transnet has named a consortium led by black-empowerment group Southern Palace as the preferred bidder for a 20-year concession to build and operate a new R2.5-billion inland container terminal in southern Gauteng. The public–private partnership, dubbed the... →

UNTU signs 7.3% wage increase for PRASA employees

By: African News Agency 4th June 2019 The United National Transport Union said on Tuesday it had signed a 7.3% wage agreement with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and secured a guarantee that no employee would be retrenched in the next financial year. The agreement will be implemented across the board for all PRASA... →

Mbalula wants urgent probe into Pretoria Metrorail and Transnet tamping machine crash

By: African News Agency 3rd June 2019 Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has instructed the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) to prioritise its investigation into the crash involving a Transnet tamping machine carrying out railway track maintenance and a new Metrorail train at Eerste Fabrieke Station in Mamelodi in Pretoria, injuring at... →

IHHA conference to ‘better equip’ Transnet to take advantage of global knowledge, technology

By: Simone Liedtke 31st May 2019 As it keeps the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in mind, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is hopeful that the upcoming International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) conference will provide the State-owned entity with an opportunity to not just showcase South African capabilities and potential to the... →

TIPS Forum discusses how 4IR is helping efficiency, environment

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st May 2019 Industrialisation leads to socioeconomic growth, often at a cost to the environment in the form of emissions and pollution, and, therefore, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) presents a promising opportunity for sustainable development. Speaking at the Trade and Industry Policy Strategies... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
TIPS researcher Bhavna Deonarain

R1.25bn relocation costs for Transnet train tender 'unjustifiable', inquiry hears

By: News24Wire 31st May 2019 Two transportation companies contracted to build billions of rands' worth of locomotives for Transnet had "no justification" for hiking costs by R1.25-billion as a relocation fee, the State capture commission heard on Friday. The commission of inquiry has been investigating allegations of state... →

Establishing the Gauteng Transport Authority board Van der Merwe’s first priority

By: Irma Venter 28th May 2019 The first two tasks Jack van der Merwe has to tackle in establishing the Gauteng Transport Authority (GTA) is to secure the appointment of the GTA board, followed by updating the Gauteng transport model. Addressing the Intelligent Transport Society of South Africa in Midrand on Tuesday, he said... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Jack van der Merwe

Aveng says has received R133m for sale of Aveng Rail

By: African News Agency 28th May 2019 South African conglomerate Aveng said on Tuesday the sale of Aveng Rail as a going concern to Mathupha Capital had now become unconditional and the cash consideration of R133-million was received on May 24. Aveng, which is involved in steel, engineering, manufacturing, mining, concessions, public... →

Kenya engages World Bank for $750m loan for budget support

By: Reuters 28th May 2019 Kenya is negotiating with the World Bank for a $750-million loan for budgetary support, documents on the proposed funding posted on the lender's website showed on Tuesday. The East African nation has multiple development funding programmes, worth billions of dollars, with the Washington-based... →

Transnet became 'captive client' after selling off comms network, inquiry hears

By: News24Wire 28th May 2019 Transnet should never have sold off its vital fibre communications network to an external service provider in 2007, the state capture commission has heard. The commission of inquiry has been investigating allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud since August 2018. Subscribe to Fin24’s... →

PRASA places three executives on special leave

By: Simone Liedtke 22nd May 2019 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has placed the company’s chief strategy offer Dr Sipho Sithole; its legal, risk and compliance head Martha Ngoye and its group CEO Tiro Holele on special leave. The decision follows ongoing investigations into allegations of improper, irregular,... →

Gautrain will not reissue rolling stock tender

By: Irma Venter 21st May 2019 The tender for the procurement of new 12 new four-car trains for the Gautrain system will not be reissued, says Gautrain Management Agency communication and marketing senior executive manager Dr Barbara Jensen. An almost three-year tender process, initiated in February 2016, to secure additional... →

No injuries or fatalities reported in Germiston train fire

By: News24Wire 21st May 2019 No injuries or fatalities were reported after a train caught fire in Dinwiddie, Germiston, on Tuesday, according to Ekurhuleni Emergency Medical Services (EMS). "We received a call at 06:30, saying a train was on fire... next to the Scaw Metals company. →

Gautrain seeks to improve passenger convenience with new train schedule

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th May 2019 Gautrain has introduced various changes to its train schedule from this month to provide a “more convenient and comfortable service” to passengers. The afternoon peak period has been extended northbound only, from Park station to Hatfield station, from Monday to Friday. →

Transnet appoints acting CFO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th May 2019 State-owned Transnet has appointed Mark Gregg-Macdonald acting CFO, with effect from May 13. He will also serve on Transnet's board. →

Photo by Creamer Media
Transnet acting CFO Mark Gregg-Macdonald

Mahomedy tackles locomotive costs, interest rate swaps at Zondo Commission

By: African News Agency 16th May 2019 Transnet acting CE Mohammed Mahomedy continued his testimony at the Zondo commission of inquiry into State capture on Thursday, further detailing how the State-owned entity was bleeding billions of rands as a result of irregular contracts and interest rate swaps. Mahomedy told the commission... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Transnet acting CE Mohammed Mahomedy

Transnet CEO tells Zondo Inquiry of irregularly awarded contracts

By: African News Agency 16th May 2019 Transnet's acting group chief executive, Mohammed Mahomedy, on Wednesday told the Zondo Commission that a review of tender documents by Transnet's new board revealed that several contracts at the state-owned freight operator had been entered into irregularly. Mahomedy was acting CFO at Transnet... →

Not all deals at Transnet went through prescribed processes – acting CEO

By: African News Agency 15th May 2019 Not all transactions at State-owned logistics company Transnet were handled in compliance with stipulated processes, acting CEO Mohammed Mahomedy told the commission probing graft on Wednesday. "What we found was that certain transactions were approved through normal processes and some of the... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Acting Transnet CEO Mohammed Mahomedy

PRASA welcomes Constitutional Court decision on Swifambo matter

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 13th May 2019 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has welcomed a ruling by the Constitutional Court that dismissed an application brought by Swifambo Rail Leasing, which is in liquidation, for leave to appeal an earlier Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) decision not to reinstate a contract for the... →

Tanzania rail project to take half of Transport Ministry's budget

By: Bloomberg 10th May 2019 Tanzania’s transport ministry is seeking approval from lawmakers for its 2019/20 budget of 4.96-trillion shillings ($2.15-billion), which includes 2.48-trillion shillings for construction of a standard-gauge railway line. The railway line will link the East African nation’s commercial city of Dar... →

Transnet procurement process an 'aberration', State capture inquiry hears

By: News24Wire 9th May 2019 Evidence presented at the State capture inquiry on Thursday shifted to procurement processes at Transnet, which have been identified by the new board as being at the heart of financial flows of the State-run freight rail company. Peter Volmink, Transnet's executive head of governance, told the... →

Gibela appoints Hector Danisa as new CEO

By: Irma Venter 6th May 2019 Rolling stock manufacturer Gibela has appointed Hector Danisa as its new CEO, with effect from May 1. Gibela is tasked with delivering 600 new passenger trains to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa in a R59-billion deal signed in 2014. Local content on the trains is to be 65% by volume. →

Hector Danisa

Outa says submits evidence against Transnet to Zondo commission

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd May 2019 The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says it has handed, what it calls a comprehensive submission, to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture that allegedly details corruption, money laundering and fraud at State-owned freight utility Transnet. In addition to allegations that... →

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