Railways Africa

[Information from Dr J N Middleton]: RRL in South Africa have bought six 62.5 tonne locos built by GM-Clyde 1ib 967-70 for very light axle-load (10.4 ton) rural branch-line use in Australia’s Queensland. They are going to Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Congolais (SNCC – the state railway in the Democratic Republic of Congo [...]

The national railways of Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have entered into a tripartite agreement to “harmonise” operations, in order to facilitate “smooth and seamless transport of goods and passengers”. Acting managing director of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) Dr Damas Ndumbaro, Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) managing director Professor Clive Chirwa, [...]

Operations of the Brazilian Vale group in both the DRC and Zambia are known as Teal Exploration & Mining – a joint venture with South Africa’s African Rainbow Minerals, Teal’s copper mining project in the DRC is at Kalumines, and is currently the subject of a comprehensive feasibility study.

According to a recent BBC programme, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – twelfth largest country in the world – covers 2,344,858 km2. Fourth most populated state in Africa, “It has more than 70% of the world’s coltan, used to make vital components of mobile phones, 30% of the planet’s diamond reserves and vast deposits [...]

To mark the 51st year of Congo independence on 30 June, Belgium’s King Albert II handed over two regauged CKD Praha class 742 diesel locos to Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Congolais (SNCC – the state railway in the Democratic Republic of Congo). DPOV Nymburk sold the units to transport agency SCTP via Belgian [...]

On 29 June, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a grant of $US255 million towards a project “to improve transport connectivity to support national economic integration; restore the financial and operational viability of Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (National Railway Company of DRC); implement a sector-wide governance plan; and strengthen [...]

It is reported that another ex-Transnet class 35 diesel-electric locomotive has been shipped to Congo-Brazzaville for use on the Chemin de fer Congo-Océan (CFCO). This class was acquired by the South African Railways in five batches between 1972 and 1978. Three of these comprised 1,600hp GT18MC units from GM; the others were 1,650hp U15C models [...]

In accordance with an agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of §Congo (DRC) and the Kingdom of Belgium in 2007, a four-year urban rail rehabilitation project is being undertaken in the city of Kinshasa at a cost of ?7 million. The population of the metropole, which comprises 24 municipalities, is between seven and eight million. [...]

According to an unconfirmed report reaching us from Lubumbashi, staff employed by Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Congolais (SNCC – the national railway of the Democratic Republic of Congo), who have not been paid for 32 months, recently went on strike. “As a result,” our correspondent writes: “entrepreneurs have started new lorry services which [...]