South Africa’s main coal terminal, which is expanding to become the world’s largest, will assign capacity to junior miners in line with the upgrade of the railway lines leading to the port, Reuters reports.
“Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is due to expand its export capacity to 91 million tonnes by the end of this year [...]
Archives for News
RICHARDS BAY COAL LINE
UGANDA SIGNS BRANCHLINES INTO DEAL
On 25 August, Ugandan finance minister Syda Bbumba signed a revised agreement on the Kenya-Uganda railway concession, the Daily Monitor reports:
“The agreement ends a bitter continental fight over the network, which pitted Ugandan and Kenyan businessmen jostling with Egyptian investors to replace the South African firm that originally won the 25-year concession over the
railway line. [...]
TUNISIAN HIGH-SPEED LINE
Tunisia is planning to invest $US5.5 billion over the next decade in the development of a high-speed rail link with Morocco, Algeria and Libya. Despite having a rail network covering more than 2,100km, operational efficiency is hampered by gauge differences and limited electrification.
Less than 10% of the country’s freight is carried on rail, a situation [...]
CHINA-SOUTH AFRICA RAIL AGREEMENT
From SA government information service Buanews:
“Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele today [25 August 2010] signed a ground-breaking agreement on railways and other transport-related matters with Chinese Railway Minister Liu Zhijun. Ndebele is part of a South African delegation in China led by President Jacob Zuma during his three-day state visit.
“He said through rail, South Africa could [...]
EAST AFRICAN STD GAUGE PROJECT
According to press reports, “it is now emerging that the logistics needed for the planned East African standard gauge railway network will pose enormous challenges. These are however outweighed by the opportunities.”
All five members of the East African Community have agreed in principle to build the lines in their territories. Construction of the regional railway [...]
MCLI AT MAPUTO STATION (100 THIS YEAR)
At the end of September, the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) is hosting its annual general meeting and open network event at the Maputo railway station which celebrates its centenary this year. Some 400-600 stakeholders in the shipping, freight, freight clearing and forwarding, services sector, logistics, transport, port
operations, cargo owners, financial institutions, industry associations, [...]
OUTENIQUA CHOO-TJOE TERMINATING
From the SA Tourism Update news briefs, 26 August:
“Transnet Limited has announced that the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train service operating between George and Mossel Bay will be terminated. Transnet said that it identified the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe service as one of its non-core assets in 2007. Following extensive studies and stakeholder consultation, the company decided to follow [...]
EAST AFRICA NEEDS $25 BILLION
East Africa needs to raise up to $US25 billion, or nearly two-thirds of Kenya’s annual output, over the next decade to upgrade its railways in order to boost trade, Reuters reports, quoting the East African Community’s (EAC) deputy secretary-general for infrastructure and planning Alloys Mutabingwa:
“We are talking about the railway master plan which is expected [...]
GAUTRAIN CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
Gautrain’s Sandton-airport branch has been fully operational since 8 June 2010. The stations at OR Tambo International, Marlboro and Rhodesfield are complete and operational. Feeder bus services are running to connect with trains at Sandton, Marlboro and Rhodesfield stations. Four-coach trains running until 20:30 comprise – for airport travellers – two “airport” cars whose doors [...]
HOLIDAY PLANS DERAILED
Cape Argus 22 August 2010:
By Warda Meyer – “A Newlands couple’s dream train trip to Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park has been derailed following a decision to temporarily discontinue the long-distance passenger train service. And a couple from Cornwall planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cape Town also had their plans upset.
“Tim and Pam [...]
