Posted on 10 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
“A key problem on our roads is the massive migration of freight – very heavy freight – onto the road system. That’s freight that should be on rail,” Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin said at an infrastructure development cluster media briefing. ”We’ve really got to improve, very significantly, the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) system. We [...] [...more]
Posted on 10 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Peter Bagshawe reports – 10 lots comprising 427 wagons were sold. 9 lots comprising 173 wagons and 1 coach were closed (either no bids received or reserve price not reached). [...more]
Posted on 09 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Rovos Rail is discontinuing its Cape Town – George – Cape Town trips. The last run was scheduled for the weekend 5/6/7 March. The website no longer displays a Garden Route itinerary and lists no further operational dates after March. The second last run was on 5/6/7 February. The company explains that the route was never [...] [...more]
Posted on 09 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
According to Shosholoza Meyl (SM) staff members quoted in the SA Railway Society Natal Newsletter, an internal SM newsletter has reported “massive Iosses”. Unless “very substantial” government financial assistance is forthcoming, long distance passenger trains may have to be discontinued before 2012. [...more]
Posted on 09 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Although, for practical purposes, the railway south of Pietermaritzburg together with its branches has been closed, the Creighton enthusiast group hopes to run a series of excursions to Underberg behind its class 19D 4-8-2 during winter. The class GMA, too, may see some running, the SA Railway Society Natal Newsletter reports. Together with other interested [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Botswana Railways (BR) procurement manager Mogwena Mookodi told Engineering News that it is intended to add 160 open salt wagons to its fleet for carrying bulk salt in Southern Africa. Trains will start at Botswana Ash (Botash) and continue through to the Durban harbour in South Africa, conveying export traffic destined mainly for the UK, [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Citadel Capital, a leading private equity firm in Africa and the Middle East, with investments totalling $US8.3 billion, confirmed on 22 February that it has acquired a 49% stake in the Sheltam company, the largest single shareholder and lead investor in the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) consortium. Sheltam, a South African company, owns 35% of RVR, [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
During February, the government of Tanzania resolved to revoke the three-year-old, 25-year railway concession management contract with Rail India Technical and Economic Services (Rites), but this decision has been reversed in the face of “inherent contractual difficulties” whose consequences would be devastating – mainly in financial respects – to Tanzania. Ministry for infrastructure development Shukuru Kawambwa [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
STEAM Stabled, steam sheds: 19 Museum : 7 Mothballed: 14 Awaiting museum: 1 Scrapped: 7 Proposed for scrapping: 2 In service: 9 ELECTRIC Stabled at Dabuka: 25 DIESEL In Service: Eastern area (Lochinvar): 31 Midlands area (Dabuka): 21 Southern area (Mpopoma): 27 In shops under repair (Bulawayo): 7 (Mutare): 6 Shop shunting (Mutare): 1 (Bulawayo): 1 In shops awaiting repairs (Bulawayo): 34 (Mutare): 24 Mothballed: 3 Scrapped: 9 EFFECTIVE FLEET: 114 Diesel: 89 Steam: 8 Electric: 17 [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Tunisair and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways) have signed a joint agreement creating two “spin-off” companies. Minister of transport Abderrahim Zouari; minister of industry, energy and small and medium enterprises Afif Chelbi; Tunisair president and CEO Nabil Chettaoui, and Néjib Fitouri, SNCFT CEO Néjib Fitouri were present [...] [...more]
