South Africa railway news – Page 2

  • 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 ...

  • tn za-prasa-alstom-xtrapolis-mega-depot 01
    News

    Government told to appoint permanent Prasa board as ridership decline continues

    2020-09-09T11:28:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Badisa Matshego was appointed as the de facto head of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa by the national finance ministry on September 1, joining the embattled passenger operator from airport management company ACSA. Matshego arrived as Accounting Officer following the annulment of the appointment ...

  • Transnet has re-opened the freight route between Pretoria North and Hercules
    News

    Vandalised freight line reopened after six years

    2020-06-24T05:00:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet has re-opened the freight route between Pretoria North and Hercules, which has been closed since August 2014 owing to cable theft and sabotage. Reopening is intended to improve the efficiency and reliability of trains serving customers in the mining and automotive sectors, supporting ...

  • A PRASA Metrorail EMU at Kalk Bay on the Western Cape suburban network.
    News

    Five senior appointments at embattled Prasa

    2020-06-01T10:04:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger operator Prasa announced a management reshuffle on May 29, when Administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo announced five senior appointments. Nosipho Damasane becomes Chief Executive of Prasa Rail, while Hishaam Emeran is named CEO of engineering business Prasa Technical. Neil Roesch heads road transport subsidiary Autopax; ...

  • Cape Town Central Line tracks (Photo: Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula)
    News

    Cape Town commuter rail recovery plan announced

    2020-03-09T13:56:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: Plans to restart Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s suspended commuter services on the Central Line between Cape Town and Chris Hani were announced by Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula on March 5. The route has been without services since November, when operations were ...

  • tn_za-prasa-xtrapolismega-station_01.jpg
    News

    X’Trapolis Mega EMUs enter revenue service

    2017-05-09T10:51:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: The first 13 X’Trapolis Mega electric multiple-units for Metrorail commuter routes entered revenue service on the Pretoria suburban network on May 9 after being unveiled by President Jacob Zuma. ‘This is the beginning of the revival of passenger rail after 40 years of underinvestment.’ ...

  • tn_za-xtrapolis_mega_handover_01.jpg
    News

    X’Trapolis Mega begins test running on PRASA network

    2016-12-07T09:40:00Z

    SOUTH AFRICA: The first X’Trapolis Mega electric multiple-unit started test running between Pienaarspoort and Rissik Street in Hatfield in Gauteng on December 1, following the receipt of a provisional acceptance certificate from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Test running without passengers is scheduled to ...