South Africa railway news – Page 2

  • Transnet Class 22E electric locomotives (Photo: Bruce Evans).
    News

    Transnet seeks locomotive rehabilitation options

    2023-01-25T09:08:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet has announced its intention to call an open tender for the rehabilitation of 161 non-operational locomotives ‘as a matter of urgency’, saying it had reached an impasse with the manufacturer. The CRRC Class 22E electric locos are intended for use on the North, ...

  • za transnet-freight-train
    News

    One bid passes first stage of South African train path sales process

    2022-12-06T10:00:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail has conditionally awarded private operator Traxtion Sheltam paths on the Cape Corridor, but there were no compliant bids for train paths on the Container Corridor. A total of 19 parties had expressed initial interest in 16 slots on the two corridors ...

  • Prasa restores Park - Naledi line
    News

    Prasa restores Johannesburg Park – Naledi electrification

    2022-12-05T11:23:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa restarted electric services on the Johannesburg Park – Naledi suburban line on November 28.

  • Transnet Freight Rail train
    News

    Transnet Freight Rail looks at alternative traction energy options

    2022-11-27T05:00:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail is seeking industry feedback on how affordable renewable electricity could be integrated into its traction power supplies to improve energy security and efficiency and reduce the railway’s environmental impact Any changes would need to take into account the scale of the ...

  • za transnet-freight-train
    News

    Bids in for South African freight train paths

    2022-09-14T05:00:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail is evaluating the applications it has received to run freight services on two corridors under a pilot scheme to sell train paths to third party operators. Opening up access to the rail network forms part of a reform process set out ...

  • An agreement in principle to provide landlocked Botswana with more efficient rail access to South African ports has been announced by Botswana Railways and Transnet Freight Rail.
    News

    Botswana – South Africa rail enhancements agreed

    2022-08-10T11:30:00Z

    AFRICA: An agreement in principle to provide landlocked Botswana with more efficient rail access to South African ports has been announced by Botswana Railways and Transnet Freight Rail. The two operators are to collaborate to upgrade sections of the 126 km South African line between Swartruggens ...

  • Transnet
    News

    Greenfield port plan includes 550 km railway

    2022-08-10T08:06:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet National Ports Authority has issued a request for qualification for the design, funding and construction of a greenfield deepwater port and 550 km railway connection at Boegoebaai, 20 km south of the Namibian border in Northern Cape Province. The RFQ is intended to ...

  • PRASA has reinstated suburban services in Cape Town (Photo: Metrorail)
    News

    Cape Town commuter services restored

    2022-08-01T11:00:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has reinstated suburban services on the Cape Town – Mutual – Langa; Cape Town – Pinelands – Langa; and Cape Town – Ysterplaat – Lavistown – Bellville routes after a long hiatus caused by the pandemic and vandalism. ...

  • Gautrain-at-O-R-Tambo-3
    In depth

    Interview: Gautrain sees a stable path to growth

    2022-07-15T09:30:00Z

    Having made a positive socio-economic impact since opening a decade ago, the 1 435 mm gauge Gautrain network serving Johannesburg and Tshwane is seeing passengers return gradually after the pandemic. Benjámin Zelki  asks William Dachs, CEO of the province’s organising authority Gautrain Management Agency, how he sees the future.

  • za-TFR-Class_43-krizinger
    News

    Through running accord to boost chrome exports

    2022-07-07T09:36:00Z

    AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail has signed a cross-border through-running agreement with Mozambique’s CFM, aimed at boosting the export of South African chrome and ferrochrome through the port of Maputo.

  • Cape-Town-Central-Line-conditions-2
    In depth

    South Africa: PRASA revival hangs by a thread

    2022-07-06T13:39:00Z

    Infrastructure theft and vandalism brought South Africa’s passenger railways to their knees during the pandemic lockdown of spring 2020. Restoration of PRASA’s Western Cape suburban services is now offering hope for the future, but in populous Gauteng the outlook seems bleak, with many routes rendered inoperable. Benjámin Zelki visited in early 2022.

  • Prasa train in Cape Town
    News

    Cape Town to study commuter rail devolution

    2022-04-29T14:35:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has authorised the city of Cape Town to undertake a detailed feasibility study for the potential devolution of control of suburban rail services from the national government. ‘This is a big deal, because up until now, the national government ...

  • Cape Town
    Metro Report International

    Cape Town aims to be a laboratory for urban mobility

    2022-04-28T11:31:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Plans to position Cape Town as a ‘laboratory for urban mobility in a developing world’ have been presented at an industry briefing on the city’s vision for a New Generation Technologies strategic framework and Integrated Ticketing Business Plan. ‘We have got a whole lot ...

  • Tansnet freight train
    News

    South African rail network to be opened to third party freight operators

    2022-04-11T09:00:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: State railway and port company Transnet has invited expressions of interest in buying train paths on two key freight corridors as a pilot scheme for wider rail reform. Opening up access to the rail network forms part of a reform process set out in a ...

  • za-Prasa Cape Town-Zelki
    News

    Prasa restores Cape Town Northern line to Bellville

    2022-03-21T13:45:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has restored services on its Cape Town – Goodwood – Bellville suburban route after they had been suspended for two years.

  • za-transnet-cookhouse-loco-balloons
    News

    Transnet to seek private operator for reopened link

    2021-10-12T13:45:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail is to invite bids for a concession to operate the 200 km Cookhouse – Blaney line in Eastern Cape, which was reopened for regular traffic on October 7.

  • mz-unitrans-maputo-harare-train
    News

    Maputo – Harare logistics service launched

    2021-07-12T11:17:00Z

    AFRICA: Diversified logistics company Unitrans Africa has launched dedicated rail freight services between the Port of Maputo in Mozambique and three trading hubs at Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru in Zimbabwe.

  • tn_za-prasa-xtrapolismega-station.jpg
    News

    Board appointed at ‘too big to fail’ Prasa

    2020-11-05T13:53:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: The government has appointed a permanent management board for national operator Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa for the first time since 2017.

  • The new EMU that was delivered in WC
    News

    Prasa formally opens Western Cape control complex

    2020-11-03T11:44:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Prasa has formally inaugurated its R2∙8bn Rail Management & Train Control Centre at Bellevue in Cape Town, as part of its programme to modernise its signalling and infrastructure, including adoption of ETCS tailored to local conditions.

  • za-traxtion-sheltam-locomotives-03
    News

    Traxtion targets open access opportunities

    2020-10-28T15:07:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Rolling stock leasing and engineering company Traxtion Group has announced plans to invest in additional locomotives and wagons to support open access operations as the 22 500 km Transnet network is opened up to new entrants. On October 15 South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa announced ...