Three routes have been identified by the National Department of Transport (DoT) for possible high-speed rail development – Johannesburg-Durban, Johannesburg-Cape Town, and Johannesburg-Musina.
According to DoT director-general George Mahlalela, the necessary feasibility studies are to be put in hand, starting with the Durban-Johannesburg route. A team is to commence work in October “with the dual process of concept
development and testing the market for a period of six months. We are hoping that, at the end of this process, we will be able to determine whether there is enough appetite for this project in the market.
“The initial scoping suggests that it is possible for the project to be commercially-driven on a public-private partnership model. There are also possibilities for country-to-country cooperation.”
The high-speed rail projects would not fall under the Prasa umbrella, as this already faces a “big challenge” in upgrading commuter rail.
Tag archives for Railways Africa
HIGH-SPEED RAIL
TRANSNAMIB WAGE NEGOTIATIONS
Negotiations between TransNamib management and workers went into recess towards the end of August but were expected to resume early in September. Employees are asking increases of between 12 and 13% for categories A1 to A3, B1 to B4, and C. Other demands include transport allowances, increased medical aid contributions, increased housing allowances, and long-service awards.
TransNamib chief communications officer Ailly Hangula-Paulino ruled out the possibility of a strike, should negotiations drag on until November. Union representatives declined to comment to the press.
UMGENI STEAM’S GREAT RACE
On Saturday 28 August, Umgeni Steam Railway (USR) participated in its first “Great Train Race” in association with Lions International and NOSA. Passengers were able to board the train at Kloof, departing at 12:00 midday to Inchanga, where the 27.5km relay race was scheduled to start at 14:00. Athletes competed against the train to Kloof. As the rail route at 25.1km is shorter than the road, the train was assigned tasks along the way, including stopping at strategic points to allow passengers to view the race. Tickets cost R150 with discounts for pensioners and children.
On Sunday 29th August, the regular “Inchanga Choo-Choo” operation was scheduled, with 4-8-2 class 3BR no 1486 hauling side-door timber-bodied wooden coaches through the Valley of a Thousand Hills to Inchanga where the local Conservancy hosted a community craft market at the station. With USR’s bar-coach out of service for routine maintenance, 102-year-old coach no 500 is temporarily in use as a lounge serving refreshments.
Projects currently under way include the refurbishment of brake-end no 7390, extensive repairs to the tender of 3BR no 1486, restoration of 118-year-old Dübs class A tank loco no 134 (NGR 88) and – at Pietermaritzburg – repairs to coaches 233 and 4781 as well as loco no 2637.
CITADEL TAKES CONTROL OF RVR
According to East African Business Week (published in Kampala), the restructuring exercise of the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) consortium, which operates the Kenya and Uganda railways, has been completed.
This development gives Citadel Capital a controlling stake in the new company Rift Valley Railways International (RVRI), the entity that owns 100% of each of the Kenya and Uganda railway concessions. Citadel has confirmed that its shareholding in RVRI has risen to 51% through its subsidiary Ambiance Ventures Ltd.
RVRI’s other shareholders include Trans-Century Limited, a Kenya-based investment company (34%) and Bomi Holdings Ltd, a Ugandan private investor (15%). “Citadel Capital and the other RVRI shareholders are finalising a sustainable business and investment plan that includes a $US287 million capital expenditure programme to rehabilitate infrastructure and rolling stock. The firm intends to strengthen RVRI’s management team and is in “advanced stages of negotiation with a global rail consultant to bring in international best practices.”
“Citadel Capital will look to inject more than $150 million in the Kenya-Uganda Railway over the coming five years,” Citadel managing director Karim Sadek says.
GAUTRAIN NUMBERS SURPASS EXPECTATIONS
All predictions of Gautrain ridership were greatly exceeded in the system’s first month of operations, with 400,000 people using the newly opened airport line during the time the Fifa Soccer World Cup was in full swing. System operator Bombela had expected around a third of that number during June. Chief executive Jerome Govender told the media: “Demand was such that on our first weekend of operation we had to increase train frequency from every 30 minutes to every 12. We were carrying about 20,000 passengers on weekends.” The earlier enthusiasm for Sunday family outings on the Gautrain has now eased off.
According to van der Merwe, the project team forecast 77,000 passengers weekly on the airport branch. In fact, more than 76,000 passengers are being carried each week now, “so we were 98% correct.”
Bombardier Transportation’s facility in Derby, United Kingdom, manufactured the fleet of Electrostar trains. Fifteen complete vehicles were exported to South Africa and the remaining 81 were supplied as flat-pack deliveries of roof, underframe, cab and intermediate end modules for final assembly in Nigel, Gauteng.
Bombardier’s overall contract scope includes the design and supply of 96 vehicles and the Cityflo 250 train control technology. In conjunction with its broad-based black economic empowerment partners, Bombardier is also supplying the power supply and distribution systems, communications systems, automatic fare collection, track work and maintenance equipment, as well as project management, systems engineering and integration, and testing and commissioning. The partnership will be involved in maintaining the system during the 15-year operating period following construction. The civil contractors are responsible for all civil works, including tunnels, stations and the maintenance depot.
One of the key elements of the Gautrain project is the Social Economic Development (SED) programme. This requires the builders to meet various obligations in terms of local employment and procurement. The Bombardier project team comprises around 90% South African employees, with the remaining 10% participating in skills transfer programmes.
ABUJA RAIL: 18,000 JOBS
According to project engineer for the 77km Abuja Rail Mass Transit Tony Agwaniru, about 18,000 jobs will be provided to Nigerians on completion, of whom some 10,000 will be permanent and 8,000 casual. Special adviser to the general manager at the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Leo Yin said the Nigerian federal government has so far invested $148 million in the project.
This represents about 20% of the total cost, apart from the mobilisation fee, which made the building of workshops and factories possible. Construction material including sleepers and support columns are on the ground and ready for use but funds have not been made available this year for the company to continue work.
PORT ALFRED STATION
Port Alfred station, endpoint of the 69km line from Grahamstown – closed since 1993 – has been handed over to the Hospitality Youth Initiative. The building is reportedly “looking good”. The branch was opened originally by a private company in 1884. The principal feature on the railway is the Bloukrans bridge, 56m above the river. It was opened in 1928, replacing the original – the scene of a serious accident in April 1911.
TETE COAL MINING
Significant rail and port infrastructure upgrades are envisaged in the short to medium term future in Mozambique (and South Africa) as a result of coal-mining licences expected to be awarded in Tete province. Media reports quote Arvind Khare, CEO of Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro da Beira (CCFB) as noting that a new coal terminal will have to be developed at Beira, as well as facilities to handle up to five billion tons of coal by July 2011. CCFB will be looking at awarding a concessionary contract to a private sector participant to build and operate the port infrastructure.
SOUTH AFRICAN RAIL ANNIVERSARIES
The 150th year commemoration of the Point to Durban railway and the centenary of the unified railways in South Africa are to be celebrated on Heritage Day, Friday 24 September 2010. The 150th commemoration has been officially accepted as part of the Celebrate Durban Halala Ethekwini Festival. Umgeni Steam Railway is planning a special steam-hauled train between Durban’s main station and the Point via the Esplanade, subject to approval from the relevant authorities, and also suitable sponsorship.
MOLOTO CORRIDOR
National Department of Transport (DoT) director-general George Mahlalela says the long-mooted commuter rail corridor between Tshwane and Moloto, which may be developed jointly with the provincial governments of Gauteng and Mpumalanga is “priority number one” among all new rail lines currentl on the drawing board. At present government spends R350 million annually in subsidising workers’ bus travel between Tshwane and KwaNdebele. A feasibility study for the project has been completed, and it has been registered with the Treasury as a public-private partnership (PPP).
