Posted on 02 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
On 29 June, it was announced that Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) CEO Siyabonga Gama, suspended since September 2009, was to be immediately dismissed. This course was recommended by Mark Antrobus SC, who chaired the disciplinary inquiry. Gama was found to have awarded an R18m contract to a firm linked to communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda. This [...] [...more]
Posted on 26 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is aiming for an average volume growth of 10.3% in the 2010-2011 year, Transnet acting chief executive Chris Wells says. “Volume growth opportunities will primarily be driven by increases in the general freight business”, mainly comprising manganese, domestic coal and magnetite, as well as export iron ore and coal. Total Transnet [...] [...more]
Posted on 22 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Tau Morwe has been appointed acting chief executive of South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail, following the continuing suspension of Siyabonga Gama since September 2009. [...more]
Posted on 22 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The first batch of class 39-200 “as-new” diesel-electric locomotives has left Pretoria, Eugene Armer reports in the RSSA (Reef branch) newsletter “On Track”. Some have gone to Phalaborwa to work phosphates traffic and six have been sent to Richards Bay. They are going to haul phosphates (mainly) down to Komatipoort and then through Swaziland to [...] [...more]
Posted on 02 December 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
(from Transnet website, November 2009) The railway network is classified into The core network (about 12,800km) Branch lines (about 7,300km) Transnet’s branch lines strategy provides for concessioning to private operators. Approval has been granted by the Minister of Public Enterprises in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999. Transnet is currently doing feasibility studies [...] [...more]
Posted on 02 December 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
(from Transnet website, November 2009) Classification Rationale / Criteria Basic & extended core: 12,801km (63.8% of the total network distance of 20,079km). Includes 74km of closed line Basic core Port- Rail Corridor Port network Cross-border interconnect Extended core High volume feeder Network operational flexibility Future network expansion provision Characterised by: 1. Freight focus 2. Blockloads [...] [...more]
Posted on 21 November 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
On 17 November, acting Transnet CEO Chris Wells announced that Transnet Port Terminals CEO Tau Morwe is to fill the post of CEO at Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) temporarily. The post has been vacant since 1 September, when the parastatal suspended Siyabonga Gama from duty. He faces internal disciplinary action over allegations of irregularities relating [...] [...more]
Posted on 13 November 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
(Based on a Transnet article) The Saldanha-Sishen line, Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR) export iron ore corridor, forms the backbone of the company’s growth strategy. The potential of Saldanha Bay as a deep sea port lay dormant until 1969, when feasibility studies recognised it as the perfect setting for launching South African iron ore onto the [...] [...more]
Posted on 22 September 2009 by Station Master
Rail operations at Transnet’s new Port of Ngqura have been given the green light after Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) successfully ran a test train this month on the Ngqura main line, declaring it safe for operations. The achievement marks the latest crucial step in preparations for the commercial launch of the Port of Ngqura and [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 September 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) increased container train frequency between Johannesburg and Durban from six to between 16 and 22 trains a day in July compared with June. TFR says its market share for long-haul cargo between Johannesburg and Durban increased to 30% in July, compared with 17% a year ago, according to Engineering [...] [...more]
Posted on 03 August 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
On 24 July, Train #1892 from Durban arrived at Port Shepstone in the afternoon made up of two Class 6E1 (E1569 & E1542) and 15 empty DJ/DZ wagons. The return load (Train #1893) consisted of 19 empty DJ/DZ wagons, but not the same vehicles that had been brought down. Our informant, who was on the [...] [...more]
Posted on 02 August 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
According to the SA Railway Society’s KwaZulu-Natal Newsletter, a derailment during the first week of June saw three class 35 diesel locos wrecked, together with five loaded timber wagons. The accident occurred just below City View, on the Greytown branch line running north from Pietermaritzburg. The crew survived but had to be cut from the [...] [...more]
