Rolling Stock | Perway | Infrastructure | Signalling | Operators | Logistics Issue 1 // 2016

EDITOR’S COMMENT RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

Luck Of The Irish A guy called Murphy has this well-known law: if anything can go wrong, it will. For instance, if a train from East London hits a cow early in January, damaging the locomotive, a 17-coach express heading for the coast with anything up to 1,200 passengers on-board won’t be able to get past. If the passenger train has already spent five hours in a heatwave at Burgersdorp, standing face-to-face with another train in the middle of nowhere, it will have run out of water and the toilets will be overflowing.

Not all that far away, Murphy seems to have had his hands full, with a train from Port Elizabeth that was Photographed this in the municipal transport supposed to take 20 hours to Johannesburg. It was workshops at Seattle. battling with binding brakes, overflowing toilets and

no water. In the end it was to take 33 hours to complete its journey. Attempts to contact Shosholoza Meyl offices were unsuccessful. Nobody answered (Murphy again). The train manager said there was nothing she could do.

Eastern Cape area operations manager for Shosholoza Meyl, Nosipho Mancotywa wasn't aware of any complaints regarding the lack of water but she confirmed the lengthy delays with News24. Mancotywa said the signals were not working at Cradock because the electricity was off.

Murphy can be a real devil where electricity is involved and he is a dab hand with cockroaches. On 28 December, passengers on an overnight Translux coach from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth had to stay awake all night fending off the insects, which appeared – judging from the photos they took - to have as good as taken over the vehicle.

Translux said in its reply to the complaint: "We are currently reviewing our current service contract with the intention of strengthening this area of our business." Judging from similar complaints aired on HelloPeter late last year, Murphy was running loose with cockroaches on Translux buses everywhere.

The message? Arguing with Murphy gets you nowhere, but people who anticipate his worst endeavours, people who devise measures to avoid or minimise their effect, may just be a step ahead.

It’s no good being the best railway in Africa – or the fifth biggest in the world - if it falls down the moment something goes wrong. The best railway is the one that expects problems and has the means in place to deal with them. And, long-distance passenger trains that run out of drinking water because of delays that aren’t supposed to happen have no excuse – none at all.

Rollo Dickson – editor

Seattle is one of five US cities still running electric trolleybuses. Photo: S Morgan- Wikipedia

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RAILWAYS AFRICA

PUBLISHER In this issue Rail Link Communications cc

Phillippa Dean Editors Comment 2 Railway Expansion in Egypt 6 EDITOR Rollo Dickson Booyco on Track with Plans to Expand 8 Eskom's Majuba Line 10 STAFF WRITER Mandy Thompson Vale's Ncala Rail Plan 12 Africa Update 14 DESIGN & LAYOUT RME Broadens Their Horizons 30 Andrew McGarrity Craig Dean South African Road-Rail Vehicle Innovator 34 SA Spotlight 36 WEBSITE Craig Dean IEC Holden SA In Motion 42 Michael Lotriet Company News 44

ADVERTISING Mishaps 48 Ophelia Naidoo End of the Line 56

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ophelia Naidoo

Project Manager Nicole Barnes

CONTRIBUTORS BOOYCO ON Andre Kritzinger TRACK WITH ESKOM'S Bruno Martin PLANS TO MAJUBA LINE Jacque Wepener Peter Bagshawe EXPAND 8 10

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The copyright on all material in this magazine is expressly reserved and 34 42 vested in Rail Link Communications cc, unless otherwise stated. No material may be reproduced in any form, in part or in whole, without the permission of the publishers. Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers of Rail Link Communications cc unless otherwise stated. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, neither the Editor, Publisher or Contributors can be held Railways Africa liable for any inaccuracies or damages that may arise. E&OE. online

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voestalpine VAE SA (Pty) Ltd 23 Anvil Road, Isando 1600, South Africa Tel: +27 11 928 3700, Fax +27 11 928 3910 [email protected] www.voestalpine.com/vaesa EGYPT RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

Railway expansion in Egypt Egypt's economy has experienced sustained growth in the last four years due in part to the increasing stability of its government and its commitment to investing in ambitious large-scale infrastructure projects such as the development of the Suez Canal Zone (SCZ). As Egypt's economy and population both expand, the shortcomings of its national and urban transport networks are being addressed with the same enthusiasm and dedication that saw the SCZ development delivered in record time. At the latest Egypt Economic Development Conference, minister for transport Hany Dahy announced a list of projects in various transport sectors for the coming 15 years with investments worth $US13.5 billion.

Cairo Metro Line 3. Photo Wikipedia

The railway sector is a key component in improving Egypt's transport network. The minister said they are seeking to maximise the role of railways in the transport of freight and passengers, with three projects at a combined investment level of over $1 billion for freight development and over $5 billion in high-speed rail lines. Not only will the new rail projects help alleviate urban mobility issues and freight operation inefficiencies; they are designed to improve efficiency and safety of the existing rail network through automation, improved signalling and communications.

Major Rail and metro infrastructure projects currently under way in Egypt include:

Cairo Metro Line 3 • Extension works investment level: $2.7 billion • Project initiation date: 2007 • Estimated completion date: early 2022 • Key project benefits: expansion of Cairo metro capacity to 1.5 million daily passengers

Project details: With over 22 million inhabitants, Cairo is one of the most heavily populated cities in the world and as it expands further it requires greater public transport coverage and efficiency.

According to recent surveys, only 14% of Cairo residents own a private car, which means that the greater part of the burden of urban mobility falls on shared taxis and buses. The Cairo metro system is one of the most popular modes of public transport as it is affordable, reliable and fast.

The Cairo Metro already has 78km of track along two fully operational lines, with a third being completed and opened in stages. Work on the 33km Line 3 began in 2007 and phases of the final extension works are still under way.

According to transport minister Hany Dahy, a contract is to be signed with the Franco-Egyptian alliance to carry out the final phase of the third metro line. The cost of constructing the final phase amounts to £E 11 billion [$1.4 billion] and will be funded from the state treasury.

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JWT66770 BOOYCO ENGINEERING RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

BOOYCO is on Track with Plans to Expand its Railways Footprint

Booyco Engineering is well positioned to "We are currently working on four major "We have built service both the local and international locomotive projects for the domestic an enviable railway industry with its accumulated market and these require extensive reputation for technical expertise and experience when it knowledge of the complex reference reliability in the comes to HVAC systems for rolling stock. standards and specification documentation. climate control To facilitate this, we have brought additional systems In 2014 an extensive focused investment engineering expertise on board to enable us supplied to programme saw the company significantly to handle these large projects. In addition the railway extend its engineering resources and to these new projects, we are proud to have sector, both in personnel capabilities. The company is exported our air conditioning systems to the South Africa now fully geared to stake its claim in the largest locomotive manufacturer in the USA, and abroad. international air conditioning and climate as well as to locomotive manufacturers in Statistics from control systems market. China," Pougnet says. units currently in operation An emphasis on innovation and Established in 1985, Booyco Engineering locally show uncompromising quality has seen the was originally exclusively focused on that there has company implement an ongoing training developing tailor-made air conditioning been a very programme. solutions for the military. In 1989 the low number company extended its offering to include of failures "We have focused on phased training of our the rail sector. "There are a number of per million staff as we recognise our strength lies in common denominators between the kilometres, the depth of experience and technological requirements of military and railway sector which is the applications each member brings to companies. For instance, the operational international the table. The pooled resources of the requirements for customers in both of yardstick of technical team allow us to participate on these sectors call for higher levels of shock reliability for an international platform, while bringing and vibration than most other automotive this sector". a robust cost leadership strategy to the engineering applications. Another table," says Jeremy Pougnet, CEO of commonality is operating temperature Booyco Engineering. where military vehicles and locomotives can ~ Jeremy Pougnet, CEO operate in areas of extreme temperature, of Booyco Engineering. "We have built an enviable reputation for from aggressive summer heat to below- reliability in the climate control systems freezing winter lows," says Pougnet. supplied to the railway sector, both in South Africa and abroad. Statistics from He adds that, in three decades of units currently in operation locally show business, while the company draws on that there has been a very low number of experience in other sectors and taps into failures per million kilometres, which is the its extensive design library, each new international yardstick of reliability for this project has unique requirements resulting sector," says Pougnet. in custom engineered solutions. It is the company’s ability to innovate that ensures a fit-for-purpose HVAC system without compromising on quality or reliability.

Quality control forms a critical part of the Booyco Engineering manufacturing process with all parts being checked meticulously.

Completed HVAC ready for despatch to customers.

8 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA BOOYCO ENGINEERING

"Interestingly, although we built our ensure that the production units match the reputation on military applications it has performance of the design. The routine test been our work for the railway sector that certificates are quality records which are has really taught us about innovating made available to customers on request. systems that deliver the required performance levels 24 hours a day. Railway During the commissioning phase, in-situ locomotives run almost continuously and testing is generally undertaken between in this environment any reliability issues the locomotive manufacturer and Booyco quickly come to the fore," Pougnet adds. Engineering to verify the performance of the system. Thereafter, each subsequent Booyco Engineering uses its own proprietary unit would be subject to routine designed electronic controllers and a commissioning tests. proprietary designed ‘smart’ inverter. The ‘smart’ inverter is used in certain diesel "The company can only achieve its locomotives that have a 74 V DC power objectives of world class performance supply to convert this to a 220 V three in terms of on-time delivery, quality and phase, frequency controlled up to 60 reliability if we have suppliers that are Hz power supply so that conventional also aligned with this objective. Booyco compressors and fans can be used. The Engineering has made a huge commitment ‘smart’ inverter controls the speed and to supply quality development (SQD) cycling of the compressor as well as the in order to ensure that we take our key speed of the fans. suppliers with us on our journey to world class," Pougnet says. All processes within Booyco Engineering conform to the requirements of Pougnet reiterates that Booyco Engineering ISO 9001:2008 and all products are markets an engineering solution, not performance tested and certified to ensure just a standard boxed product. "These compliance with the relevant specifications. are not commodity products; they are Components for the company’s HVAC high-end solutions engineered to specific systems are selected to deliver high levels operating parameters and requirements of reliability under extremes of shock and vary in terms of their size, shape and and vibration, dust burden, temperature power supply. Our core competencies of and humidity. design and engineering, underpinned by our responsiveness to customer needs, Each new design is performance tested in differentiate us in the market." an in-house climate chamber to establish that the design parameters have been Booyco Engineering’s speed and flexibility met. All testing, analysis or verification in responding to customer queries and is conducted in accordance with the crafting innovative solutions give the test plan to comply with all aspects of company a definite edge in the global the specification. market. Leveraging an extensive reference base of custom engineered units which have Apart from type testing of the first unit been field-proven to be reliable and which of each new design, functional testing is continue to perform under exceptionally done on all production units. Certain key tough conditions, firmly positions the parameters are measured and recorded to company to handle large rail projects.

Stores and Datapack review with Booyco Engineering railway HVAC Incoming quality inspection at Booyco materials receiving participation from Booyco system in build in the factory. Engineering; in this case on a heat at Booyco Engineering's production and exchanger which is being checked Engineering. quality teams. dimensionally against the manufacturing drawing.

www.railwaysafrica.com 9 ESKOM RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

A project to construct a contractor Aveng Grinaker- manager Ernest Dlamini, new 68km railway to heavy- LTA was honoured by the project’s overall budget haul standards, linking coal Construction World Magazine has increased by R800 mines west of Ermelo in for its successful project million and stands currently Mpumalanga, to the Majuba completion. Other structures, at R6 billion. The project is power station - located most of which were expected to create between between Amersfoort and completed in September, 2,500 and 3,000 direct Volksrust - was initially include 96 culverts, 9 cattle construction employment scheduled for completion creeps, 32 agricultural under- opportunities at its peak. in May 2016. According and overpasses, 18 bridges, Eskom will continue to source to communications and 1 service duct and 40 cattle unskilled and semi-skilled stakeholder management grids. workers from surrounding head Khululiwe Xulu, local communities and farms. challenges currently faced The coal line is located in include several delays, owing the Gert Sibande district Contractors include: to difficult site conditions, municipality and will traverse • Aveng Rail - permanent such as water seepage and two local municipalities, way infrastructure mudrock, community unrest Msukaligwa and Pixley • Suka Projects - that affects the projects' Ka Seme, with rail take- general maintenance workforce and "some off accessible from both • Sheppard Protection contractors' issues". directions of Transnet Freight Services -security Rail's (TFR) existing coal About 40% of the project corridor to Richards Bay. A successful bidder for has been completed to date, overhead traction equipment, with about 87% of the civil The new line will transport signalling systems and and earthworks physically 21 million tonnes of coal to traction/auxiliary substations completed, including the the Majuba power station has yet to be notified. construction of a 300m annually. Operational incremental launch bridge responsibilities for the line A contract for the 88kV over the Vaal river, which have still to be worked out overhead line to feed the was finished in July. The between Eskom and TFR. traction/auxiliary supplies bridge was the most complex substations has been concrete structure in the civil According to Eskom rail awarded to Conco Power works package. Civil works projects programme Project.

10 www.railwaysafrica.com

VALES NACALA RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

US$300m loan for Vale's Nacala rail plan

The African Development Bank do Moçambique (CFM – the state With sponsorship from Vale SA (AfDB) has approved a loan of railway of Moçambique). of Brazil and Mitsui of Japan, US$300 million for Brazilian group the Nacala Rail and Port Project Vale to support the expansion of The complete project, estimated will enable the efficient and the Nacala logistics corridor in East at $US44 billion, involved environmentally friendly transport Africa. AfDB, through its private rehabilitating 682km of existing of mineral resources, general sector window, approved the track in Mozambique and Malawi; freight and passengers through senior loan to support construction the construction of a maritime two of Africa’s fastest-growing of the 912km Nacala railway (of terminal and 230km of new lines, economies. In doing so, the project which 230km are greenfield) and including 201km connecting stands to facilitate trade and associated port infrastructure. Moatize to Nkaya Junction in development across the southern Malawi and 29.3km from Namarral Africa region. Railway extension The corridor links areas in Zambia, to Nacala-à-Velha - a total of 912km lines into neighbouring countries Malawi and Mozambique with the altogether. This work will enable the are currently under feasibility port of Nacala, providing Vale railway to move 18 million tonnes discussion. with an additional rail route for per annum. coal from the Moatize mine to the "The project will bring about sea. Transporting the commodity CLN is planning to run 20 coal global competitiveness to from Mozambique's coalfields trains a day, requiring a fleet of 100 Mozambique's mineral exports, in Tete Province has been a locomotives and 2,700 wagons. It including the country's important major headache. is expected that 12 ships will call coal reserves. While the rail at the coal terminal every month. infrastructure is anchored on The Sena Line to the Port of Beira According to Vale’s Project Director the viability brought about by has an annual capacity of only 6.5 for Africa, Asia and Australia, mineral exports in Mozambique, million tonnes. Work currently going Ricardo Saad, their goal is to the Project will also build ahead aims to increase this figure to attain the 22 million tonnes of coal competitiveness around the region’s 20 million tonnes per annum, still a export by 2017. This is to be divided agricultural and manufacturing long way short of the 2020 target between Nacala – 18 million tonnes trade, thus supporting Africa’s of 100 million tonnes annually. and Beria – 4 million tonnes. industrialisation agenda."

In 2014, the Mozambique In a recent statement AfDB "The Bank is proud to partner with government signed a concession reiterated it’s long-standing Vale and Mitsui (Japanese group covering a new port at Nacala support to the Nacala Corridor, with a 15% stake in the project) as well as coal traffic along the having financed regional road and the other financial institutions railway with the Integrated Nacala infrastructure from Lusaka in to secure the necessary funds for Logistics Corridor (CLN) - a Zambia, to Nacala in Mozambique, this US$4.5 billion project, one of consortium owned 80% by Vale which also integrates Malawi. the biggest investments in Africa and 20% by Caminhos de ferro in recent times," concluded the statement issued by AfDB.

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ALGERIA ANGOLA ALGERIAN SIGNALS UPGRADE ANGOLAN RAILWAY BOOSTS ECONOMY

A European Train Control System (ETCS) Caminhos de Ferro de Benguela (CFB) extends 1,344km upgrade is to be implemented on the from the port city of Lobito in Benguela province to Luau, 140km, 18-station passenger and freight near Angola’s border with the Democratic Republic of rail network in the Algiers metropolitan Congo (DRC). Construction of the line began in March area. The work will be carried out by 1903 and it was completed in February 1929. Traffic was Estel RA, a joint venture of Siemens halted by Angola’s lengthy civil war but restarted following and Société Nationale des Transports rehabilitation of the line in 2012. Surveys undertaken Ferroviaires (SNTF - the state railway of recently confirm the importance of the line to the Algeria). Siemens’ share of the contract communities it serves, in particular the economy of Moxico is worth €340 million - the biggest province and its principal city, Luena. The route from Luena automation order in the company’s to the border municipality of Luau is 360km, with stations history. The company is to supply new at Cameia and Luacano. signalling, safety and control systems, as well as shunting and telecommunications The line beyond Luau into the DRC is not presently in technology. Once installed, speeds of operation. However, an alternative route into Zambia is up to 160km/h will be possible, enabling planned from Laucano. trains to travel at closer intervals. Siemens is supplying automated shunting equipment for the freight line.

ALGIERS METRO EXTENSIONS Zenza Luanda DRC A consortium of Colas Rail and Algerian Dondo Malanje partner Kou GC has been awarded two ATLANTIC ANGOLA Luau contracts by the Algiers Metro Company Dilolo (EMA) with a total value of €168 million Camacupa Jimbe Lobito Luena To Caaia for work on two extensions of the Algiers Benguela Kuito Chingola metro network. A 1.7km, two-station Cubal Huambo extension from Tafourah Grande Poste to Lubango Dongo Place des Martyrs is to open late in 2017. Namibe Menongue Km This contract is valued at €51 million. A Chiange 3.6km, three-station line from Hai ElBadr Chamutete 300 to Ain Naâdja 2, south of the city, is to be (Cassinga) ZAMBIA completed in October 2017. This contract Oshikango is worth €117 million. Colas Rail will be Ondangwa responsible for the installation of railway NAMIBIA infrastructure, fare collection, power BOTSWANA Tsumeb supplies, ventilation and smoke extraction, as well as project coordination.

14 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA AFRICA UPDATE BENIN COURT ORDER STOPS CONSTRUCTION

Claiming that the governments court order halting work on the line Bolloré's €2 billion Blueline project of Niger and Benin granted it the by the Bolloré group in Cotonou. comprises a 3,000km line linking rights to build a railway linking Petrolin began court proceedings Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin's capital Cotonou with against Bolloré and the Benin Benin and Togo. The Niger-Benin Niger's capital Niamey in 2010, government last year. part of the line is known as the the Petrolin group has secured a "Backbone". French company Geftarail also Tambao MALI NIGER N claims to have the rights to build Bolloré Africa Logistics and the Dori Niamey Kaya a Benin-Niger link, as part of its government of Benin have been Dosso Ougadougou Kano own Africarail project involving a ordered by the court to refrain Malanville BURKINA FASO NIGERIA number of countries in the region. from any work on the "Backbone" Banfora Jos BENIN Kaduna project, subject to a fine of 100

TOGO Parakou Geftarail and its Niger subsidiary million CFA francs ($US161,809.68) COTE D’IVOIRE GHANA Blitta Ilorin have filed a lawsuit against the per day. Makurdi Benin and Niger governments Lagos Cotonou at the International Court of The Petrolin Group is chaired by Lome Gulf of Guinea Arbitration in Paris, insisting that Samuel Dossou-Aworet, described Abidjan Accra Takoradi Port Harcourt Km construction on the Niger-Benin as "an oil tycoon" from Benin. 100 200 300 400 section of line be stopped.

BOTSWANA TRANS-KALAHARI RAILWAY ON TRACK

Depressed global prices for coal have raised concerns about the viability of the proposed Trans-Kalahari railway from Botswana’s coalfields to Walvis Bay. Undeterred, the governments of both countries are pushing ahead with the project. The route runs parallel to the Trans-Kalahari Highway, paved throughout, which provides road facilities that eventually lead to Johannesburg.

The cost of the proposed new railway was estimated at $US15 billion in the feasibility study, but is likely to cost more. Doubts about private investors having the means to raise at least $15 billion are aggravated by the fact that they can expect no government guarantees. Aurecon, the Australian project consultant, estimated capital expenditure at a total $14.2 billion comprising $8.6 billion for electrified rail, $1.9 billion for above rail, and $3.6 billion for the port.

Aurecon’s pre-feasibility study revealed that the efficiency of the railway line coal supply chain is expected to be enhanced by copper and manganese ore resources in southern Botswana.

The construction works involve earthworks, drainage, rails, trackwork, bridges and tunnels, and is expected to be complete by 2019.

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www.railwaysafrica.com 15 AFRICA UPDATE RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

DEMOCRATIC THALES ETHIOPIA EGYPTIAN REPUBLIC OF SIGNALLING ETHIO-DJIBOUTI RAILWAY CONTRACTS CONGO 93.5% COMPLETE More than 30 The $US3.4 billion, 656km Ethio-Djibouti standard DRC JOINS NORTHERN years after its CORRIDOR gauge railway is 93.5% complete. Freight service first contract for has begun however, to make the movement of food the Greater Cairo supplies possible to areas affected by the current The Democratic Republic of Congo Metro, Thales drought. Each train carries 3,500 tonnes of wheat. has announced its decision to join has signed new the Northern Corridor Integration contracts to project as full a member during the upgrade the fare next summit. The announcement collection system GABON was made by DRC minister of for Lines 1 and 2, transport and communications as well as provide SA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT Justin Kalumba Mwana-Ngongo. communications TRADE WITH GABON systems for the Al Thawra A South African business delegation visited Gabon EGYPT extension on and Cameroon late in November. It participated Line 3 (Phase 3). in an Outward Trade and Investment Mission in CHINA BUILDING NEW Thales will deploy Gabon, the SA Department of Trade and Industry LIGHT RAIL IN EGYPT its TransCity fare (the dti) reports. collection solution, A new 70km light rail electric which uses its Web The CEO of Valotech 228, a South African system is to be built in Egypt with 2.0 technologies, railway, signalling and track solutions engineering 12 stations and trains running up to on Lines 1 and company, Dorothy Mofomme, says she is looking 120km/h. Design, tracklaying and 2, replacing forward to exploring joint venture opportunities trial operation is to be undertaken the equipment with the Setrag railway authority in Gabon. by Chinese companies. Egypt is installed in the planning a new city east of Cairo 1980s when the "Setrag is Gabon's only railway network operator with light railways linking the capital two lines were and my objective is to engage with the company with six nearby cities and towns. built. The new to determine how best I can come on board and The objective is for businesses contracts entail assist them to overcome their challenges. It is and people to relocate outside the delivery of 850 common knowledge that most developing African capital. A consortium that includes access gates, 100 countries are experiencing challenges of having China Railway has received a $US1.5 vending terminals either an ageing or redundant rail infrastructure. billion order for the new project. for ticket outlets I am looking forward to engaging the company Construction is expected to be and 75 portable in order to conduct a needs assessment that complete within 30 months. ticket control will hopefully develop into a joint venture," terminals, as well Mofomme explains. as implementing new system The investment mission aims to explore trade and architecture. investment opportunities and to increase bilateral The TransCity trade between South Africa and Gabon. central system will supervise all data generated across the existing GHANA network and accommodate GHANA UNION THREATENS future extensions. SERVICE WITHDRAWAL A consortium comprising Thales On 7 December the Ghana Railway Workers Union and Alstom is served notice of its intention to withdraw passenger to implement services on 18 December "as a result of the failure CAIRO METRO LINE 6 fully integrated of government to pay their two month's salaries." In communication a National Executive Committee (NEC) resolution According to Egypt’s State and supervision passed and signed by general secretary Goodwill Information Service in Cairo, a new systems, relevant Ntarmah and chairman Charles Thompson of the 24km section of line is to be built to 15 new stations Railways Workers Union, it was resolved that: "if by in Cairo, comprising Line 6 of the and an additional 18 December 2015 the railway company does not city’s metro. Initial estimates of cost depot, from honour its pay obligation in full including December are around $US3.5 billion. Transport Attaba to Rod El pay, railway workers shall withdraw their services in Minister Saad El Gioushi witnessed Farag and Cairo running passenger services from Accra to Tema and the signing of a memorandum of University, a route Accra to Nsawam". understanding. length of more Continues on page 18 than 17km.

16 www.railwaysafrica.com Grinding of crankshafts with lengths of up to 4.7 metres and weights of up to 5 ton

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Continued from KENYA MADAGASCAR page 16, "Ghana Union Threatens NEW KENYA RAIL ROUTE SPAIN & MADAGASCAR Service COLLABORATE ON RAIL Withdrawal" The original route planned for Kenya’s new standard gauge railway passed though Nairobi’s central Madagascar’s ministry of tourism, In addition, the business district, Kibera and Dagoretti. This has transport and meteorology has union called for been redesigned, for a number of reasons. The line signed an agreement with the the immediate will now cut through the Nairobi National Park. The Spanish ministry of public works dissolution of railway is to detour from Nairobi South station near to collaborate in rail transport. The the board of Embakasi, joining the southern bypass near the Old agreement, which is valid for five directors for the Sereni Hotel. It is to run parallel to the bypass up years and can automatically be Ghana Railway to the emergency gate near Carnivore Restaurant. renewed for successive periods of 12 Company Subsequently it is to pass through Hyena Dam, months, includes the possibility of Limited the Ivory Burning Site, Narogomon Dam and the Madagascar acquiring second-hand following Kingfisher Picnic Site. The route continues to the metre gauge rolling stock. In terms what the NEC central workshop opposite Multimedia University of the agreement, there is to be described as on the edge of Magadi Road, past the tented camp cooperation in all aspects of railway a "failure on and forest area near Banda School, past the Kenya planning, consultation, construction the part of the Wildlife Service headquarters before exiting at the and operation, building on Spain’s board to execute Langata gate. Finally it will pass the edge of Bomas "long and rich experience in the its functions." of Kenya, Karen Estate along the left hand side of the field". southern bypass to Dagoreti Forest, to the south of "NEC therefore Mai Mahiu and the Naivasha Industrial Park. The new The agreement was made public by calls for the proposed route will result in minimal displacement of Madagascar minister of tourism and immediate human settlements, the proponents point out. transport Ulrich Andriantiana. dissolution of the board RVR HEAVY DUTY WAGONS ARRIVE and a new one instituted for The first 120 of 480 heavy-duty wagons ordered by effective policy Rift Valley Railways (RVR) from CNR in China have formulation for arrived in Kenya. Each has a carrying capacity of the company. 60 tonnes – a significant increase on the 40 tonnes We also call on carried by existing rolling stock. Supervising the the ministry of offloading of the wagons in the harbour at Mombasa, transport to RVR group CEO Carlos de Andrade explained that take necessary the size of existing wagons seriously limited the steps to review Station scene at Andasibe, Madagascar. carrying capacity of the railway. "Being more cost- Photo: Wikipedia Act 779 Railway effective per trip, the new wagons mean we will be Act in respect able to reduce our freight charges considerably and of ownership of become more competitive than the roads which are MALAWI Ghana Railway already overburdened," he said. Company MALAWI RAIL: Limited assets." Installation of satellite tracking and GPS-based UNLOCKING TRADE technology on all trains has helped cut cargo transit According to the times between Mombasa and Nairobi by six hours. Former President of Malawi resolution, the Professor Bingu wa Mutharika NEC entreats KENYA STANDARD GAUGE LOCOS wanted sound economic activities the government which could help boost the of Ghana Six standard gauge locomotives are at work assisting economy, and aimed to strengthen to revamp in the construction of Kenya’s new railway. According rail transport between Malawi and the sector to transport principal secretary Irungu Nyakera, "at its neighbouring countries. "especially the least" 50 more units are to be imported before the much talked end of 2016. Speaking after touring China Road and Mutharika's ambitions began to take about Western Bridge Corporation construction sites at Syokimau shape when the line from Mchinji to Rail Line for station, he said 1,620 freight wagons and 40 Chipata in Zambia was eventually effective passenger coaches are also expected. commissioned in 2010. The current transport of leaderships of Malawi and Zambia goods and "The whole project as far as Nairobi is expected to have shown commitment to persons across cost at least 327 billion shillings," he was quoted strengthening rail facilities. The the country," saying "and the budget for locomotives and the Malawi ministry of transport and as a matter of other machines is some 106 billion." public works recently authorised urgency. renewal of a contract between Altogether 40 stations are planned, though only 33 the Central East African Railways will be ready when the railway becomes operational (CEAR) and Zambian Railways at the end of 2017. Limited (ZRL), in terms of which

18 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA AFRICA UPDATE

the latter operates trains in Malawi. Some 70 wagons and three locomotives have been made available. CEAR runs trains in Malawi in terms of a concession.

In July 2015, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia disclosed plans to extend the Mchinji-Chipata line to join the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. Lungu appealed to the private sector to take advantage of the existing infrastructure in the two countries to develop partnerships and joint ventures that would help promote and boost trade.

MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE AFDB LOAN TO MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE: SENA LINE REOPENED The 143km of railway between Settat and Marrakech is to be doubled, financed with a loan of $US112.3 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB). Office Traffic resumed on National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF – the national railway of Morocco) will gain Mozambique’s Sena increased passenger and freight traffic between the capital, Casablanca, and Line from Moatize on 20 Marrakech, an important tourist centre. January, following the derailing of an empty Annual passenger numbers are expected to grow from the present 4.5 million Vale coal train between to more than 7.4 million by 2020, when the project is due for completion. Mapangali and Doa. This Freight traffic is likely to double. A previous AfDB loan - $396 million in 2010 was caused by heavy rains - made possible the modernisation of other sections of the Tangier-Casablanca- undermining the track, Marrakech line. Passenger totals between Casablanca and Marrakech increased by portions of which hung nearly 20% between 2010 and 2014. suspended in mid-air.

A passenger train from MOROCCO’S HIGH-SPEED RAILWAY Beira was the first across the repaired section, and Construction of Morocco’s high-speed railway linking Casablanca to Tangier is was expected in Moatize about 70% complete. Office National des Chemins de fer (ONCF – the national on the morning of 21 railway of Morocco) has begun preliminary feasibility studies to assess the January. Caminhos de economic viability of the next section of line proposed, extending south from Ferro do Moçambique Casablanca to Agadir. A field study and passenger survey has been undertaken. (CFM – the state railway) Highway travel between Casablanca and Agadir currently takes about five hours has strengthened and costs around $US60, including toll charges. By train to Marrakech and bus to maintenance teams in Agadir, a journey takes nine hours and costs about $US18 in first class. Air travel the area to monitor track takes only three hours but costs $80. The success of a new high speed railway conditions for the duration between Casablanca and Agadir depends on a fare that is more attractive than air of the rainy season. travel, but takes more or less the same time. ONCF needs to be able to provide this with infrastructure estimated to cost at least $US2 to 2.5 billion.

MOROCCAN HIGH-SPEED TRAIN WEIGHING

A new train weighing system being installed at the main depot for the 183km Tangiers-Kenitra high-speed line will provide data on wheel, axle and total vehicle weight. It makes use of multilingual ptwX software, which provides real-time displays for up to 16 axles and generates customised reports that can be exported in standard formats such as pdf and csv. The British firm Weighwell chose its PTW 500-VB2X for the depot at Tangiers because it is lightweight and portable.

www.railwaysafrica.com 19 AFRICA UPDATE RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

NIGERIA NIGERIA: REFURBISHED TRAINS

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has refurbished three air-conditioned coaches and several 90-seater standard class coaches, to be added to the rolling stock used on the Lagos-Kano intercity passenger train service. According to NRC managing director Adeseyi Sijuwade, security is to be improved on the route.

At least 250 coaches and 130 wagons have been rehabilitated and refurbished during the past two years by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in terms of its facilities refurbishment programme.

ABUJA-KADUNA LINE OPEN SOON

The 186km new standard gauge railway between Abuja and Kaduna is expected to commence operations between February and March 2016. The project was started in February 2011 by the China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and was completed in December 2014. Approximately 4,000 people were employed and it is expected that more than 5,000 additional jobs will be created during operation. Rolling stock to be used on the line has reportedly been imported.

NIGERIAN MINISTER OF TRANSPORT LOOKS AHEAD

Nigerian minister of transport Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, speaking in Lagos, said the new Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge railway would be completed in 2016. President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he announced, is to revamp Nigeria’s rail network, to encourage mass transit of passengers and goods across the country. Work is to begin "in earnest" on new standard gauge lines from Lagos to Kano and Calabar. The line from Lagos to Kano is to connect Ibadan, Ilorin, Minna and Kaduna. The line from Calabar to Lagos is to traverse the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Uyo, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Ughelli, Sapele, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Benin, Ijebu Ode, Ore, and Sagamu. New rail construction, the minister explained, will generate work for over 250,000 people. He was quoted saying: "The current state of the railway is an indication of the serious neglect of this important sub-sector occasioned by poor policy initiation and implementation. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been effectively reduced to an economically unviable venture dependent on government subvention without any return on huge investments." The minister promised that transport of petroleum products by rail would resume during 2016.

FORMER MINISTER DENIES SEVEN STANDARD GAUGE CORRIDORS CONTRACT INVOLVEMENT According to Nigeria’s new minister of Transport Former Nigerian minister of transport Senator Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Federal Government Idris Umar has dismissed allegations that he was intends to create seven rail corridors on standard involved in a "shady process" award of the contract gauge. He announced this at the inauguration for rehabilitating the Port-Harcourt-Kaduna and of train services between Port Harcourt and Kafanchan-Maiduguri rail lines. His appointment was Aba, explaining that the initiative is a public- effective from 2011, but the contract was awarded private-partnership which intends to modernise before that date. Umar listed a number of projects and expand rail transport across the country. He completed under his watch, none of which were reported that feasibility studies have been carried questionable in any way. He was quoted saying: out to create seven additional rail corridors of "After going through the false story, the only option standard gauge rail in terms of a public-private- would have been to discard it as mere mischief but partnership initiative. The government is to considering that in Nigeria, mere allegation is as good sponsor five bills in the National Assembly, to as [a] guilty verdict; it became necessary to correct enable effective private sector participation in the and clarify the falsehood". transport sector.

20 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA

ABUJA RAILWAY TO OPEN IN 2017

Lack of progress on the light rail project in the Nigerian project." According to a study conducted in 2010, as capital Abuja has been brought into question several many as 470,000 passengers were predicted to use times since President Olusegun Obasanjo performed the line on a daily basis. This is forecast to grow to a the official groundbreaking in May 2007. daily usage rate of 700,000 commuters by 2015, when taking the current growth rate in the FCT into account. In mid-2013, it was reported that only 27% of the work had been completed. In July 2013, Federal Capital The light rail network is expected to link Abuja with Territory (FCT) minister Senator Bala Mohammed satellite towns such as Nyanya, Kubwa, Mararaba and promised that the project would be accelerated. Lugbe. The construction contract was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, but Mohammed said that in addition to bringing cheaper, payment to the contractor appears to have been slow comfortable and safer transport, the project would and irregular. Initially, diesel rolling stock will be used; mark a positive turning point in the transport fortunes electrification will be undertaken when the presently in the FCT. Minister for the economy and finance Dr unreliable electricity supplies have been improved. In Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had reportedly facilitated a February 2016, FCT minister Muhammad Musa Bello $US500 million soft loan from the Chinese Exim Bank announced the intention to open the Abuja railway for that had "breathed a new life into the near-moribund public use in the last quarter of 2017.

NIGERIA: 2016 - GOVERNMENT SPEND ON RAIL

Financial constraint is said to by way of moving some funds from movement of petroleum products have stalled railway projects one area to the other." from Lagos will commence "to across Nigeria. In the course of further strengthen railway relevance an inspection tour of rail facilities Places visited by the joint to Nigeria's economic growth." in Lagos by the joint Senate committee included the Ido According to Sijuwade, the NRC is and House Committees on Land terminus; Apapa - where containers moving cement from Ewekoro to Transport, Senate committee on were being loaded for movement Minna, Kaduna and Kano for Lafarge land transport chairman Gbenga to the northern part of the country; Cement; as well as wheat and flour Ashafa described the N4.5 billion the maintenance shed; and the Safe products from Lagos to Kano for (about $US22.6 million) earmarked Train Control (STC) - a control room Flour Mills Limited; and is moving for railways in the 2016 budget as where all the trains in Nigeria can containers from the Apapa Port to "grossly inadequate". be monitored. Kaduna and Kano.

According to Ashafa, only House committee on land transport Director of NRC operations Niyi N399 million is allocated for chairman Aminu Isa expressed Ali said lack of funding for the capital projects. He was quoted delight with what the NRC has Safe Train Control system has saying, "much of that sum goes achieved. NRC managing director slowed down implementation. He towards personnel costs." The Adeseyi Sijuwade said the railway explained that the system makes Nigerian Railway Corporation had been comatose for decades it possible for the NRC to monitor (NRC) currently employs about but was now back on track. He real-time movements of trains using 9,700 people. was quoted saying: "The NRC on-board computers installed on its now operates mass transit trains, locomotives. Trial implementation In terms of the appropriation bill intercity passenger and freight of the project began during 2015. currently being considered, he said, trains, as well as excursion and "The problem we have is funding. "some concessions can be given specialised charter trains all over The contractor has not been paid the country." It is hoped the for over a year", Ali said.

EAST AFRICAN RAILWAY MASTER PLAN

The current East African Railway Master Plan is an important part of the envisaged East African Federation. The latter is a considerably enlarged and extended version, compared with the previous East African Federation (that consisted of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), which collapsed in the 1970’s. The three- nation railway was a fundamental and very efficient part of the old federation. From the moment it was disbanded, the three constituent railways fell on hard times. Kenya’s new standard gauge railway lies at the core of the master plan. The line is envisioned to extend to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, Tanzania and South Sudan. If the envisaged federation fails to come into being, the railway will inevitably be fragmented, with ownership shared by the many constituent countries. There is talk of a rail connection to Kisangani in the DRC, from where the Congo River is navigable to the capital. A railway to Matadi on the Atlantic coast enables traffic to bypass the rapids west of Kinshasha.

This line would constitute the first east-west transcontinental route across Africa, but prospects for viable usage are unclear.

www.railwaysafrica.com 21 AFRICA UPDATE RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

SÉNÉGAL TANZANIA SÉNÉGAL-MALI TANZANIA: RULES FOR PRIVATE RAIL OPERATORS CONTRACT SIGNED Tanzania’s Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) is The China Railway Construction drafting open access regulations aimed at permitting multiple operators to Corporation (CRCC) has signed use railway infrastructure. Sumatra director of railways Dr Michael Kisaka contracts worth $US2.7 billion says the objective is to create a competitive environment in the transport with the governments of Mali and sector. Except for the jointly-owned 1,960km Tanzania-Zambia line, all the Sénégal in terms of which the railways in the country are in the hands of state-owned Reli Assets Holding 1,286km metre-gauge line from Company (Rahco), including the Tangaland Moshi-Arusha lines, neither of the Malian capital Bamako to which is currently operating. Dakar on Sénégal’s Atlantic coast is to be rehabilitated. The project Four companies have already shown interest in operating the Rahco will be financed by China and infrastructure, Dr Kisaka says. For instance, Rahco reportedly signed a implementation is expected to take memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s Kifaru Rail about four years. CRCC is to rebuild Limited (KRL) for the provision of railway services in Tanzania. KRL said 641 route-km in Mali at a cost of that it would "soon be operating on the Central Line between Dar es $US1.47 billion. Reconstructing Salaam, Kigoma, Mwanza and Tanga in Tanzania. In 2015, the World Bank the 645km portion from Dakar approved $US300 million in funds from the International Development to Tambacoundra and the Malian Association (IDA) to help the government of Tanzania in creating a reliable frontier near Kidira will cost open access railway infrastructure on the Dar es Salaam-Isaka section $US1.26 billion. of the East African Central Corridor and to strengthen the country's rail agencies' ability to manage the infrastructure and traffic operations. The financing will support the intermodal and rail development project SÉNÉGAL "FIRST WITH designed to increase the reliability of the rail infrastructure and train ELECTRIC TRAINS" operations, strengthen logistics in the port of Dar es Salaam and the rail terminals as well as strengthen rail operations. In his traditional New Year's Eve address, Sénégal's President The funds will be used for relaying tracks, building new intermodal Macky Sall said that construction terminals, repairing or reconstructing bridges and supporting the of a new electric railway is to institutional transformation of the sector. Tanzania is a transport hub for begin during the course of 2016. its landlocked neighbouring countries like Zambia, DR Congo, Rwanda, Serving 14 stations, it will be able Burundi and Uganda. to move 115,000 passengers per day, carrying them in less than 45 minutes from Dakar to Blaise FREIGHT MUST MOVE BY RAIL - TANZANIA Diagne International Airport (41km). Of goods transported out of the port of Dar-es-Salaam, 75% is moved by Speaking on live TV on 31 road. New Tanzanian minister for works, transport and communications December, immediately following Professor Makame Mbarawa says the practice is destroying the country’s the president’s address, minister roads. Once the new standard gauge railway is finished, he promises, all Benoit Sambou told viewers this traffic will go by rail, including that destined for other East African watching the independent countries. Wal Fadjri TV-radio station: "the Regional Express Train (TER) will be the first electric train in Sub- TANZANIAN RAIL CHIEFS SUSPENDED Saharan Africa." Tanzania plans to spend $US14.2 billion constructing a standard gauge Contacted by a news agency about rail network within five years. In December, Reli Assets Holding Company this doubtful-sounding claim, (Rahco - the state railway assets holding firm) director-general Benhadard Sambou assured them it was true. Tito was suspended to "pave the way for a thorough investigation into gross violations of procurement procedures" for the construction of the Unconvinced, the news agency line. New Tanzanian President John Magufuli has pledged to root out had a look round Africa, finding corruption and inefficiency in the country and has already sacked several that an electric service known as senior officials. Magufuli has disbanded the board of directors of Rahco Gautrain had started running in and the state-run Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL), for failing to take action Johannesburg five whole years on irregularities in the railway tender, his office says. During December, previously – in time for the Soccer the president dismissed the head of the government's anti-graft body World Cup in 2010. Their conclusion: for failing to tackle high-level corruption. He also sacked the head of "the boast about Sénégal as home Tanzania's port authority and the chief tax collector. to the first electric train in sub- Saharan Africa is off the rails". The projects planned by the government include construction of a 2,561km standard gauge railway connecting the port at Dar es Salaam to Rwanda To elaborate slightly: electric trains have been and Burundi, at a cost of $7.6 billion. Two additional lines, to cost running in South Africa for more than ninety years. More than 8,000 route-kms of line are $6.6 billion, would connect Dar es Salaam to the coal, iron ore and soda electrified. ash mining areas in the south and northern parts of the country.

22 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA AFRICA UPDATE

TAZARA TANZANIA PREPARES FOR TAZARA FREIGHT ADJUSTMENT TO THE PASSENGER GROWTH DROPS 57% TRAIN RUNNING SCHEDULES

Tanzania Freight conveyed by the Tanzania In order to incorporate the newly acquired International Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara), passenger coaches in the system and Container Terminal which operates the 1,860km, further streamline our passenger train Services Ltd (TICTS) 1,067mm-gauge railway from Dar es operations, the timetables for the through CEO Paul Wallace, Salaam in Tanzania, to New Kapiri- interstate passenger trains, known by the who handles cargo Mposhi in Zambia, dropped by 57% names Mukuba and Kilimanjaro, have been at the port of Dar es in 2014/15, from 208,538 tonnes in adjusted with effect from 16th February 2016 Salaam, says cargo 2013/14 to less than 90,000 tonnes. as follows: containers have The Tazara board plans to cut been increasing 1. The Mukuba Passenger Train, which used expenditure by 50%, and intends at about 8% every to run as Express Train from New Kapiri- to spend $US45.8 million on the year. He applauds Mposhi every Tuesday and as Ordinary railway during the 2015/16 financial the intention to Train from Dar es Salaam every Friday, year. The board is optimistic about build a standard will now be running as Mukuba Express the year’s prospects, anticipating "a gauge railway, Train departing from New Kapiri-Mposhi net operating profit of $1.68 million seeing this as a every Tuesday and then departing from from projected revenue of $US practical solution to Dar es Salaam every Friday. The change 45.8 million." decongest ports. In is that the Mukuba Express Train will run October, Tanzania both ways as Express Train and will follow Tazara expects freight traffic to started construction the current Express Passenger Train recover during the current financial on a $10 billion running times. year to reach 200,000 tonnes and port and special forecasts passenger traffic at 1.98 2. The Kilimanjaro Passenger Train, which economic zone in million journeys in 2015/16. Tazara used to run as Express Train from Dar es Bagamoyo, a project management has been directed to Salaam every Tuesday and as Ordinary backed by China and achieve these numbers by preparing Train from New Kapiri-Mposhi every Oman that aims to "a bankable business plan", Friday, will now be running as Kilimanjaro transform Tanzania retraining staff and embarking Ordinary Train departing from Dar es into a regional on a marketing campaign. It has Salaam every Tuesday and then departing trade and transport been asked to investigate inviting from New Kapiri-Mposhi every Friday. The hub. The port will the private sector to manage the change is that the Kilimanjaro Ordinary be able to handle popular Dar es Salaam commuter Train will run both ways as Ordinary mega-ships - with a train service, which runs at a loss. Train and will follow the current Ordinary container vessel size The two governments say they find Passenger Train running times. of 8,000 twenty- it difficult justifying the continuation foot equivalent of subventions to Tazara - a In summary, the new Passenger Train units (TEUs) - after potentially viable company, "which Departures from the terminal stations are the first phase is should stand on its own going as follows: completed, with forward." room for expansion. TRAIN NAME DEPARTING STATION DAY TIME Tanzania signed a Mukuba Express New Kapiri-Mposhi Tuesday 16:00

$565 million deal Kilimanjaro Ordinary Dar es Salaam Tuesday 13:50 with the World Mukuba Express Dar es Salaam Friday 15:50 Bank and other development Kilimanjaro Ordinary New Kapiri-Mposhi Friday 14:00 partners during This new interstate passenger train schedule 2015, aiming to supersedes all other schedules. expand the port of Dar es Salaam as part of plans to STATEMENT ISSUED BY TAZARA boost the nation's role as a regional We, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority trade hub. Tanzania (Tazara) board of directors, comprising wants to lift capacity the permanent secretaries responsible to 28 million tonnes for transport, in Zambia and Tanzania, as a year by 2020 chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively, from the 14.6 million together with four other board members from tonnes it handled both countries, meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in the financial year this 11th Day of December 2015, do hereby 2013/14. declare as follows: Vendors at a siding along the Tazara Line. Photo: David Brossard/Wikipedia. Continues on page 26

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Continued from page 23 UGANDA Operational Performance We noted that the operational performance of the TRAINS BACK IN KAMPALA authority has fallen to record low levels of less than 90,000 tonnes of freight per year in the financial A one-year trial pilot commuter train service is year 2014/2015 from 208,538 tonnes recorded being introduced in the Ugandan capital Kampala. in the financial year 2013/2014. It is with concern It has been organised by a partnership between the that the Authority has continued to underperform Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Uganda and depend on subventions from the shareholding Railways Corporation (URC) and Rift Valley Railway governments despite the directives that the authority should strive to be self-sustaining in its operations. Uganda Limited (RVRU), which will operate the trains. According to URC managing director Charles Kateeba, In this regard, the Board directed the management to: his organisation will sell tickets and be responsible for 1. Begin to show pro-activeness in handling all customer care. RVRU will provide station facilities at operational challenges and should henceforth Kampala, Nakawa, Kireka and Namanve. The KCCA will present to the Board a bankable business plan administer funding, with the government - through 2. Prepare a clear marketing strategy to retain the KCCA - providing financial support to cover the current customers, win back old customers as shortfall on income against operational costs. well as win new customers 3. To institute a re-training programme for all Commuter rail forms an integral part of KCCA's long employees in order to enhance the performance term transport master plan. The current trains capacity of the authority’s human resources is about 1,000 passengers, with commuters paying 4. Consider the possibility of inviting the private about 1,500 Ugandan shillings - nearly 50 US cents - sector to invest and manage the Dar es Salaam per trip. The government has allocated a billion shillings commuter train, which is currently a very popular - $US 290,000 – to support the project. service that is alleviating the transport challenges in the city but operates at a loss

Budget We considered the proposed budget for the financial year 2015/2016 and taking into account the recent acquisition of new locomotives and wagons, approved a freight tonnage of 200,000 tonnes of freight and 1,980,000 passengers to be transported in the financial year 2015/2016. Further, considering the current low performance of the authority, we introduced austerity cuts in expenditure, amounting to 50% of management’s spending proposals, and therefore expect the authority to make a net operating profit of $US1,689,544.00 from a total projected revenue of $45,808,960.00 against the total expenditure of $43,619,416.00 for the financial year 2015/2016.

Retirement Age Considering that the retirement age for employees in Zambia has been increased to 60 years, we approved the retirement age for Tazara employees to fall inline with the Zambian statutory requirements, which is also inline with the Tanzanian statutory requirements UGANDAN PRESIDENT IN JOHANNESBURG on retirement age. Addressing Chinese president Xi Jinping at the recent Decentralisation forum in Johannesburg, Ugandan president Yoweri We have noted that there have been too many delays Museveni said "Our urgent need that we would like the in implementing the directives to decentralise the Chinese government to look at is the building of the operations of the authority and direct management regional standard gauge railway that will link Uganda to submit a decentralisation report to the board’s with Kenya at Malaba, Rwanda at Mirama Hills, South technical committee immediately. Sudan at Nimule and the Democratic Republic of Congo at Aruu. This will have a total length of 3,000km. Review of the Tazara Act It is to be built in phases, starting with Kampala-Malaba We have noted that some progress has been made (273km). The Uganda Government has already signed in the review of the Tazara Act of 1995 in order contracts with China Harbour Engineering Company to make the authority more business-oriented. In Ltd. (CHEC). The project is just waiting for funding from this regard, a joint cabinet memorandum is being Chinese financing agencies" he explained. prepared for cabinet approval in both countries. The cabinet memorandum will be followed by preparation of the draft bills for respective submission to the two parliaments.

26 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA AFRICA UPDATE

CHINA & ZAMBIA AFRICA IN FIGURES FALLING MARKET SHARE PERTURBS

China's trade Zambia Railway Limited chief executive Christopher Msonda is concerned by the with countries in dropping market share of rail transport, compared with other modes, especially roads. Africa has grown He is quoted saying, "We need to marry the ports with railways for our logistics sector about ten fold in to move up. We also need to tap into mines without minding their fall in the world the last ten years. market." Msonda urges that dry ports should be built in landlocked countries in order Total value will to decongest seaports. There is a general call for more investment in both ports and possibly reach railways as population and trade volumes increase every year. $US300 billion in 2015, according to the fourth China- EI EUI Africa Industrial Luau Kolwezi Forum at Beijing Dilolo Lubumbashi in November 2015. Luacarno Two-way trade in Proposed North-Western Railway 2014 exceeded TAZARA LINE TO DAR ES Chingola Ndola $221.9 billion and Kitwe SALAAM China's investment Luanshya Mchinji stock in Africa Chipata Kapiri Mposhi exceeded $30 IE billion dollars. I Kabwe

Following Mulobezi US IUE his arrival in Kafue Cabora Bassa Johannesburg for Mazabuka I Senanga Tete a summit of the Monze Forum on China- Choma Kariba Dam Africa Cooperation (Focac), Chinese Kazungula Lake IE Kariba E president Xi CAPRIVI Livingstone Jinping held II STRIP Marondera individual Hwange Mutare meetings with the S Kwekwe leaders of nine Odzi Okavango Gweru to Beira African countries. Delta

The support package he announced ZAMBIAN CONTRACT PROBED includes $5 billion in interest- Zambia's minister of communications and transport Kapembwa Simbao is asking for free loans and a comprehensive audit of Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL), with particular reference to $35 billion in contracts entered into. Simbao is mainly concerned about a contract signed in 2014 preferential involving the supply of Huawei signalling and telecommunications equipment worth financing, export some R128 million through Mustek to a consortium incorporating Huawei International, credit lines and Bombardier Transportation and GMC Technologies Zambia Limited. ZRL technology concessional loans. was to be upgraded at a cost of $51 million. Professor Muyenga Atanga was fired as Xi told participants CEO of ZRL over the contract, which the board considered excessive. Atanga refuted that China hopes the board's claim that $51 million was spent on the project, saying that only $8.8 to share its million was used because the signalling component of the project did not proceed as industrialisation scheduled due to non-availability of funds. In correspondence to the then minister of experiences communications and transport Yamfwa Mukanga in May 2015, Atanga said the figure with African of $51 million was an estimated amount and the company planned to implement the countries and project over two years. He said implementation was to be on a "available cash basis". help the continent advance its own This proposal was rejected by the contractors, forcing ZRL to complete only one part industrialisation of the project. Amid accusations of financial misappropriation, Minister Simbao said with financial, the railway management should have ensured that the funds were properly utilised. technological and "We will therefore audit all the projects the company ventured into to see how the talent support. funds were spent."

www.railwaysafrica.com 27 AFRICA UPDATE RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

ZIMBABWE

NRZ RAIL WORKERS TO STRIKE ZIMBABWE: NRZ CHASING DEBTORS

In mid-January, employees of the National Railways of According to transport and infrastructural Zimbabwe (NRZ) gave notice of their intention to strike development minister Dr Joram Gumbo, the over non-payment of salaries and "management's failure National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is owed to meet its obligations". Salaries have not been paid in full money by both foreign and local debtors. since November 2014. "The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) owes $US2,8 million to NRZ, while other local Lawyers representing the Zimbabwe Amalgamated companies owe the company $9 million in unpaid Railway Workers Union (Zarwu) say – in a letter addressed rentals," he says. to the general manager – that meetings between the management and workers have achieved nothing. Zimbabwe’s Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Management had proposed to pay one sub-grade per owes NRZ $7 million, Ziscosteel $9 million, week, an arrangement which workers felt was "arbitrary and Zimforce $600, Zimasco and ZPC owe the and discriminatory". Given the extent of the arrears and parastatal $1.1 million and $1.2 million respectively. the employee obligations, the lawyers say this process "Efforts are to be made to have these debtors would be unduly prolonged. meet their obligations." Dr Gumbo says.

"Zarwu, as a registered trade union, advise that their NRZ is dogged by serious problems including low members have resolved by force of circumstances to capacity, a dwindling customer base and obsolete proceed with industrial action, to press their demands equipment. The company has a wage bill of that NRZ honour its contractual, legal, constitutional and $4 million per month and is more than a year moral obligations to the employees." According to the in arrears with salaries. Many customers who lawyers, workers are entitled, in terms of Section 65 of formerly made use of rail facilities no longer exist. the country's constitution, to be paid fair and reasonable wages and where their rights are infringed, to withhold A proposal to ring-fence potential customers is their services by way of a strike. "By reason of the above being considered. "Workers should understand and in terms of the Labour Act Chapter 28:01, as read with the situation we are in," Dr Gumbo says. the Constitution, we hereby give 14 days' notice of our client's intention to proceed on a strike."

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28 www.railwaysafrica.com

RME RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016 RME broadens their horizons.

Rehabilitation, Maintenance and Emergency Services client’s operational efficiencies by costing projects with (RME) is the multi-disciplinary unit that is responsible the whole life cycle of an asset in mind. for Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR) infrastructure, construction and rehabilitation works. To a lesser In a recent interview with Railways Africa, general extent it is also responsible for the rehabilitation manager of RME Mdu Mlaba clarified that the strategic and maintenance of other Transnet Operating change is as a result of economic factors. "The South Division’s infrastructure. African economy is not growing at the rate that we anticipated, when we embarked on the Market Demand The unit consists of engineers, technologists, Strategy (MDS) four years ago," he explained. technicians, project managers, quantity surveyors and cost engineers capable of executing multi-million rand The Transnet MDS is a R300 billion capital investment projects. programme to expand and modernise South Africa’s ports, rail and pipelines infrastructure over a period RME’s services include maintenance of the rail of seven years to promote economic growth in South infrastructure, signalling, telecommunications, perway Africa. and electrical systems, construction of rail and port related structures such as, but not limited to, Taking the unfavourable economic climate into account, bridge construction. TFR has identified RME as a valuable resource that has the capacity to generate external income from The division was established in 1991 under the name diverse sources. Africa is a vibrant environment for of Protocon (Pty) Ltd, and focused on construction such enterprises and with the rail renaissance underway projects in railway and port related environments for throughout the continent, RME believes it is perfectly Transnet, amongst others, in South Africa and on the positioned and has the capability and the capacity to African continent. deliver to any client in Africa.

In 2005, Protocon was incorporated into Transnet "We are working with various parties such as Eskom SOC Limited under one of the five operating and the mines, and are now actively looking at divisions Transnet Capital Projects (TCP). It was later opportunities throughout Africa, where Protocon incorporated into Transnet’s largest operating division operated in the past, especially in the rail market where TFR. Since then they have embarked on several we have extensive engineering experience in the rail projects for TFR and have to date completed over 100 technical sector". projects in South Africa and the SADAC region worth more than R10 billion. RME subscribes to a Project Lifecycle Process (PLP) with a focus on Front-end Loading (FEL1-4). According "We are responsible for the upkeep of the entire to Mlaba, front-end loading looks at projects from Transnet rail network infrastructure that spans over 30 concept through to detail design including lifecycle 400km," says Mdu Mlaba. costing after the concept is in place.

Taking into account their recent market performance, "We do a cost analysis, and then we apply for finance the management of RME has relooked at their by developing a business case and presenting it to our marketing strategy and is aggressively re-positioning investment committee. Once the funding is approved themselves to service untapped markets. They are we do the execution," says Mlaba. "We take into focusing on contributing to the improvement of their account the cost of the whole lifecycle of the project

30 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA RME

during the detail design phase rather than just the Area 1 and 3 are currently undergoing an Environmental upfront capital costs. Once executed, the infrastructure Impact Assessment process. RME has worked is handed over to operations to operate and maintain." extensively on Area two/Phase 1, and will be constructing new loops and extending existing loops A large part of the process is to look at the project to accommodate 200 wagon trains to improve the in its entirety, which would be not only the cost of throughput to about 16 million tonnes per annum. The construction but also the cost of maintenance and RME portion of phase two is estimated at R6.2 billion. operation, in order to ensure that the total life of the assets can be cost effective. The Pendoring Multi-User Terminal is another RME project which is located outside Pretoria near Marikana "If you do the detail design properly the costing will Platinum Mine. It involves the laying of a huge concrete be accurate, and during execution you won’t run into slab, approximately 1km in length and 40m width; problems where the project is starting to overrun in 2 railway tracks along the sides of the slab; high terms of cost," explains Mlaba. mast lights for 24hr operation; access tar roads for trucks; rail and road weighbridges as well as overhead Besides RME’s focus on contributing to the electrical traction equipment. This allows multi-users to improvement of operating efficiencies and the cost lay their chrome and ferrochrome material on the slab of maintenance they believe in localisation and which is then loaded onto trains, via the use of front- local content. end loaders, for long haulage. "The intention is to move the trucks off the roads and move long distance bulk "When we embark on a job in a particular area, we cargo onto the rail," says Mlaba. focus on employing people who are based in that area, we look at sourcing materials supplied in that particular Additionally RME has been extensively involved community. We have learned through experience that with the rehabilitation of the branch lines. "We work involving local communities ensures community buy-in very closely with our branch line team, which is a with the project," he explains. department within TFR, that specialises in looking at branch-lines, looking at the future of growth, especially Recent successful projects undertaken by RME include for farmers, and trying to resuscitate our branch lines to the Manganese line upgrade from Kimberley to De Aar. bring them back to operation," says Mlaba. The upgrade has been divided into two phases; with phase 1 expected to be completed by the end of the Rail maintenance and rehabilitation is a large part of the year valued at R1.1 billion. business, however Mlaba emphasises that one of the most important aspects of RME is diversification of skill The proposed Ngqura 16Mtpa manganese railway and capability. "As a construction unit, RME is capable upgrade stretches across 1,100km from Hotazel in the of building warehouses, offices and residential houses, Northern Cape to the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern among other things" he states. RME offers experienced Cape. The project was divided into three different areas: professionals in multiple disciplines including: civil, • Area 1: Hotazel to Kimberley electrical, mechanical, project management, costing • Area 2: Kimberley to De Aar and advisory. "We are highly diversified and are CIDB9 • Area 3: De Aar to Port of Ngqura rated," concludes Mlaba.

www.transnetfreightrail-tfr.net

www.railwaysafrica.com 31 Transnet Freight Rail is investing in the positive We move more progress of the South African economy.

Investment programmes in rolling stock and infrastructure, together with increased volume growth, than just freight! skills development and training all equate to a South African economy on the move, in the right direction. delivering freight reliably

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TFR_OTWM181_DPSadvert_V2.indd 1 2016/02/17 1:14 PM Transnet Freight Rail is investing in the positive We move more progress of the South African economy.

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South African Road-Rail Vehicle Innovator

34 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA RAILPRO

Since the concept of improving international investor backing and the delivery of maintenance aims to achieve a structure with services and crews using road- black economic-empowerment based vehicles was first introduced, (BEE) credentials for operations technology allowing these in South Africa. The company is bi-modal vehicles to be fitted confident that new intermodal with retractable rail running gear concepts are feasible across Africa, wheelsets has constantly evolved. where the day-to-day challenges of utilising rail effectively can be Road Rail Vehicles (RRVs) are overcome with some pragmatic now a familiar, if not quirky, sight and innovative thinking. on African railways. Half-hearted attempts to stimulate interest "I am excited by intermodal in RRVs delivering intermodal opportunities," Allen added, "not services have surfaced here and only our RailBus product for there in South Africa, but have connecting remote communities, failed to take off. Current South but also adapting our existing offer African RRV developer RailPro is to transport freight. We believe actively pursuing this potential. this has excellent prospects here They have pioneered a technique and abroad. I look forward to whereby road trucks fitted with overseeing increasing sales of our their proprietary technology are product into exciting new markets." enabled to transmit power to the rail wheels directly from the truck’s RailPro is currently in talks with own engine, which RailPro argues several partners outside of South is unlike any other technique in Africa to begin autonomous the market today. "Being simple RRV trials using Tubular Track’s to maintain, lightweight, and up to innovative ballastless modular 30 times more fuel efficient than track technology and Bombardier's a small locomotive, is what makes Interflo control system. these trucks an effective bi-modal proxy locomotive," says RailPro. Some 21 RRVs utilising the DSDS™ system are currently operational Known as DSDS™, the design team across South Africa. Recently received a SABS Design Excellence electrical infrastructure specialists Award for their invention. The Tractionel Enterprise bought the system is fitted to an existing Overhead Track Equipment (OHTE) "RailPro’s truck chassis, needing only minor RRV to undertake refurbishment modifications. A number of RRV and maintenance work. ability to derivatives have been developed. produce a Notably, vehicles intended for Tractionel’s operations manager, railway maintenance, including a Juan Swart explains that a key vehicle that variant with a purpose designed driver in opting for the RailPro can be easily Overhead Track Equipment (OHTE) vehicle fitted with the DSDS™ "cherry picker", that RailPro believe system was the elimination of and quickly is unique. It is designed to conform expensive and often troublesome adapted from to a multitude of rail specific safety imported railgear components. and road-axle weight regulations. standard "It is reassuring to have Rob Allen, who formerly managed local technical support, and to narrow the rail leasing fleet for Imperial knowledgeable local designers who gauge is Fleet Management has recently understand the requirements we joined the team. Allen says, "the have both below and above the a game RailPro offer is suitable across all chassis," Swart said. changer for gauges and for use across Africa. Our product range offers railway "For example," he added, "RailPro’s us, allowing owners and contractors a quick ability to produce a vehicle that and efficient platform for essential can be easily and quickly adapted us to service rail inspection, crew delivery from standard to narrow gauge is a a broader and maintenance." game changer for us, allowing us to service a broader client base." client base." A bi-modal "RailBus" has been designed for transporting workers "I believe that there is enormous ~ Juan Swart, to railway maintenance sites. potential for these RRVs with the operations manager, RailPro, which owns the DSDS™ DSDS™ system in the wider African Tractionel Enterprise technology, explains that it has market," Swart concluded.

www.railwaysafrica.com 35 SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH AFRICA RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

Spotlight South Africa

PRASA AFRO4000 LOCOS: RSR FINDINGS

South Africa’s Rail Safety Regulator (RSR) has cleared the new Afro4000 locomotives for use on the country’s railways, saying in its report; "With the exception of locomotive height limitations in certain areas of the network and subject to the highlighted conditions in this report, the Prasa Afro4000 series locomotives possess acceptable performance capabilities to operate on the South African network. At the measured height of 4,140mm, the locomotives cannot always maintain the required minimum vertical gap of 150mm between the roof and the contact wire. This will lead to a higher risk of contact and flashover with the Overhead Traction Equipment and operational delays. There is evidence on some of the Afro4000 locomotives inspected that such contact/flashover has occurred during testing." Cleared for action – but not under 3kV DC catenary. Photo: Col Andre Kritzinger.

It sounds as though the locos can be safely operated anywhere except under certain 3kV DC overhead lines. Unfortunately, this includes all major cities except Port Elizabeth and East London – and trains working from these two would be in potential trouble when approaching Bloemfontein.

$US2.5BN FOR TRANSNET FROM CHINA

China's Export Credit Insurance Corporation has agreed to a $US2.5 billion funding guarantee for Transnet, to finance procurement of mechanical and electrical products, and equipment from enterprises in China. It will cover funding for operation, maintenance and other services from Chinese enterprises in South Africa. A celebratory function to mark the signing of the deal was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Jacob Zuma and public enterprises minister Lynne Brown. It was signed by Li Hao on behalf of the export credit corporation and acting Transnet group chief executive Siyabonga Gama. THERMITREX (PTY) LTD Quality testing for your rails. Thermitrex has a mechanical testing facility for rails. The laboratory is accredited to perform two standard tests; Brinell hardness test and the Bend test. Both test procedures are performed according to international David Street . Boksburg-East . 1459 PO Box 6070 . Dunswart . Gauteng . 1508 . RSA standards, ASTM E10-12 for Brinell hardness test and EN 14730 for the Bend test. All the testing equipment are calibrated by SANAS accredited bodies. The laboratory also holds an IEC 17025 lab management accreditation. Tel +2711 914-2540/6

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36 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH AFRICA

R850M DENNEBOOM METRORAIL TICKETING AND SIMON’S TOWN INTERCHANGE SECURITY PROBLEMS SERVICE RESUMES

Denneboom is the station serving Metrorail in Cape Town has Following many months with no the original part of Mamelodi – introduced a flag system to alert service due to a damaged sea known formerly as Vlakfontein drivers when all doors are closed wall and sand covering the tracks, - on the line to Eerste Fabrieke and it is safe to depart, the Cape trains returned to Simon’s Town and beyond. The old military Times reported recently. But more on 25 January. Severe problems road from Roberts Heights (later security on trains and the hiring affected the line from early in Voortrekkerhoogte, now Thaba of additional ticket verifiers would the morning, according to radio Tshwane) to Cullinan crossed the increase pressure on an "already reports. "Defective points" were railway here. stretched" budget, Metrorail’s Riana blamed, with services on Cape Scott was quoted saying. "The Town’s southern suburbs line The Denneboom interchange company spends R200 million a reportedly running 60 minutes project forms part of the Solomon year on security in the Western behind schedule. Mahlangu Urban Design Framework, Cape," she explained. The region's which was approved by Tshwane's security complement comprises mayoral committee in October 872 protection services employees, 2009. Project developer Isibonelo 1,200 private security guards Property Services will facilitate employed for asset protection and construction of the 60,000m2 mall, guard duty, and 400 railway police which will be similar to Pretoria's members deployed on trains and other regional shopping centres at stations. and will include transport facilities catering for approximately 1,400 In all, 828 ticket verifiers are rostered to check tickets. "It is not taxis and 600 vendors, in addition a productive use of resources to to the 20,000 bus and train check at each and every access commuters. According to Isibonelo point every day," Scott says. "From CEO Shadrack Mthethwa. "This will a business point of view, it is more be a social integration and mobility productive to place staff at bigger The points and signals are remotely controlled hub. It will have a medical centre from Windermere. Judging from the frequent stations." failures, possibly the technology is not ideally manned by practitioners from suited to a railway sited on the edge of the Mamelodi." Due for completion in In the absence of technology, staff sea. April 2017, the project is expected have to check tickets manually. to employ between 2,500 and During peak hours at Cape Town MOODY'S DOWNGRADES 3,000 workers at its peak, with Station, verifiers are able to check TRANSNET direct employment by the main 47 tickets a minute. construction contractor expected London, 17 December 2015 - to reach figures of between 450 Moody's Investors Service today and 500. Line 2C of Tshwane's bus rapid transit system, A Re Yeng, is affirmed all ratings assigned to to end at Denneboom station. The Transnet SOC Ltd. and changed the route will run from Menlyn through outlook from stable to negative. January Masilela, Lynnwood These actions follow the weakening and Simon Vermooten roads to outlook of South Africa's credit Denneboom and is expected to profile, as reflected by Moody's 15 be completed by June 2017, two December change of South Africa's months after the completion of the government bond rating outlook new interchange. from stable to negative.

THERMITREX (PTY) LTD Quality testing for your rails. Thermitrex has a mechanical testing facility for rails. The laboratory is accredited to perform two standard tests; Brinell hardness test and the Bend test. Both test procedures are performed according to international David Street . Boksburg-East . 1459 PO Box 6070 . Dunswart . Gauteng . 1508 . RSA standards, ASTM E10-12 for Brinell hardness test and EN 14730 for the Bend test. All the testing equipment are calibrated by SANAS accredited bodies. The laboratory also holds an IEC 17025 lab management accreditation. Tel +2711 914-2540/6

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www.railwaysafrica.com 37

SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH AFRICA RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

GIBELA PLANT SITE-WORK BEGINS SWIFAMBO PAYMENTS PROBED

Trencon Construction of Edenvale has been awarded Substantial payments said to have been made by a contract to clear the site and prepare earthworks Auswell Mashaba in his role as director of Swifambo for the Dunnottar train manufacturing facility being Rail Leasing (Pty) Ltd. have been included in a built for the Gibela Consortium. Construction of the probe into the contract in terms of which Spanish- plant where 580 trainsets are to be manufactured for built locomotives were to be acquired for use by the the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). Vuyo expected to begin in May and be finished by the end of Mkhize, described as a spokesman for Mashaba, is 2017. An estimated final cost of R1 billion has remained quoted saying that payments of R40 million were made unadjusted since first announced some time ago. Gibela to Similex, a company controlled by Angolan national is 61% owned by Alstom, which recently acquired 51% of Maria da Cruz Gomes, and the law firm Nkosi Sabelo. the former Union Carriage works at nearby Nigel, now According to the City Press report, Maria Gomes said known as CTLE (Commuter Transport & Locomotive her company performed work related to the locomotive Engineering), where most of South Africa’s current tender and the payment was related to that. She told locomotives and rolling stock was fabricated, as well City Press she couldn't recall the details. as undertaking Gautrain coach assembly. As it will be 2018 before the new Dunnottar site is ready to start In November, Prasa asked the Johannesburg High Court to cancel the contract to supply Vossloh locomotives awarded by Swifambo in March manufacturing rolling stock, it appears possible that 2013, claiming the tender included "irrational" specifications. construction of the Prasa sets might begin at the 3.7 hectare CTLE plant in Nigel. THABAZIMBI CORRIDOR SHUTDOWN

The Thabazimbi rail corridor (Pyramid South to Lephalale) was shut down for concentrated annual maintenance from the 8 to the 22 of December 2015. Because the line is mainly single track, arrangements were made for 14-hour shutdowns during the first four days, between the 8 and 12 December. Total shutdown applied to the period 12-17 December.

Major activities undertaken included: • Sleepers replaced • New rails installed • Ballast screened and replaced • Turnouts replaced • Culvert and bridge rehabilitation • Overhead track equipment, traction sub-stations and signalling installations overhauled Artist’s impression of the new R1 billion Gibela plant to be built at Dunnottar. Earthworks have begun. • Optical fibre and train radio networks attended to

NEW GENERATION PRASA TRAIN ARRIVES

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has taken delivery of the first new trainset built at the Alstom factory in Brazil. Set T1 – the first of 600 - is to undergo an intensive seven-month testing programme at the Wolmerton depot, north of Pretoria, starting in January 2016. A second set is expected in South Africa early in 2016.

New trainset built by Alstom in Brazil. Photo: Gibela.

NEW PRASA TRAINS WAIT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

A track facility for testing the new suburban passenger trainsets that began arriving from Brazil early in November is to be ready soon, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) spokesman Victor Dlamini told Business Day’s Andiswa Maqutu. The 400 metre test track is being built at the Wolmerton depot north of Pretoria, where stabling for the new sets is being provided. However, upgraded infrastructure needed to operate the rolling stock will not be ready until some six months after testing begins in February 2016.

The 20 sets being built at Alstom’s plant in Brazil are to be followed by 580 constructed locally, reportedly at a new factory yet to be built at Dunnottar. This is not yet started. However, Alstom recently acquired the former Union Carriage property at nearby Nigel and it now seems possible that work may begin there. Nevertheless, the first locally manufactured trains coming off the production line now seems unlikely before some time in 2017.

The R51 billion deal to build 600 trains is one of the biggest procurement contracts the country has seen, second only in fact to the proposed nuclear programme.

40 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH AFRICA

BUSINESS CASE: NEW KHAYELITSHA PROTESTS METRORAIL SERVICE GAUTRAIN COACHES Late in November, activist organisation Public Transport Voice (PTV) held Gauteng MEC for roads and a public meeting at Masibambane Hall in Harare, Khayelitsha, to express transport Dr Ismail Vadi outlined concerns about train service in the area. Speakers highlighted the lack the business case for additional of security personnel on the trains which they said puts their lives in Gautrain rolling stock at a media danger - especially in third class coaches. They accused the Passenger Rail briefing on 26 January 2015. Agency of South Africa (Prasa) of discrimination, criticising the absence As previously announced, the of railway police that used to do patrols inside coaches. PTV co-ordinator Bombela Concession Company Khanyisa Ngxothani made an impassioned plea for better communication, (BCC) has invited reputable and especially when trains are delayed. Draped over the table from which she established suppliers to qualify as shortlisted bidders by submitting spoke was a banner with photos of former president Nelson Mandela and a compliant RFQ document for the current president Jacob Zuma. The text on the banner read: "Fellow South design, manufacture, supply and Africans, how the hell did we go from this [Mandela] to this [Zuma]." maintenance of 12 new electrical Overcrowding on the trains, she said, remains a major problem. multiple unit trainsets as well as the design and construction of Metrorail customer service manager Cyril Bauer admitted that Prasa is additional depot infrastructure for faced with "enormous challenges", and that the services in Khayelitsha, as the Gautrain system. well as other areas, are not at the level the company would like them to be. Bauer said they are grappling with the issue of overcrowding, adding that "The business case for the cable theft and illegal connections of electricity are a huge problem. Bauer additional rolling stock is based said he would inform the regional manager of Metrorail about the problems on a self-funding mechanism. The raised at the meeting. Gauteng provincial government will use revenue from existing sources of funding within the current concession agreement with BCC as well as funding from Railways Africa the increase in passenger capacity connect online provided by the additional rolling stock.

"The provincial government has engaged the Development Bank FORMER SA TRANSPORT MINISTER IN COURT of Southern Africa (DBSA) as mandated lead arranger to provide The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is a division – you loan capital for the new rolling might call it a wholly-owned subsidiary – of South Africa’s Department of stock procurement. The DBSA Transport (DoT). It made headline news - Prasa, that is, not the department has approved in principle a loan - for much of 2015, mainly to do with what could be called irregularities. of R3,5 billion, to be channelled The Public Protector looked into some of these, entitling her report into the Gautrain Management "Derailed". In there was all to do over buying trains from Spain that didn’t Agency (GMA) to pay for the new exactly fit in with local ideas on running trains. rolling stock. All this, it seems, was only the tip of a rather large iceberg. During "To maximise value and local content usage as well as socio- December, former director-general of the Department of Transport economic development potential George Mahlalela appeared in the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes for Gauteng, the maintenance court, charged with fraud, corruption and money laundering. According of the new rolling stock will be to a News24 report quoting a Hawks brigadier, "Mahlalela allegedly included in the procurement. This spearheaded the renewal of the contract without following proper maintenance will be for a minimum procedure while he was DoT director-general. "The Hawks investigation of 15 years although bidders revealed that soon after the contract was renewed, Tasima (Pty) Ltd will be able to offer alternative deposited millions of rand in Mahlalela’s bank account. Three co-accused, proposals for up to a 35-year Zakhele Gilbert Thwala, Sibusiso Justin Ncube, Tebogo Kgosietsile and maintenance contract." Trevor Mphuti - allegedly benefited. The four were released on R10,000 bail each and the case has been postponed to 20 July next year to allow for The bidders are: further investigation. • Alstom • Bombardier Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. Former SA transport minister • CSR Sibusiso Ndebele appeared subsequently in the Durban commercial • Mizana Engineering crimes court, also charged with fraud and corruption. National Prosecuting • DCD Rolling Stock • Transnet Engineering Authority (NPA) spokesperson Advocate Luvuyo Mfaku told African News • Siemens Agency that Ndebele was released on R10,000 bail but did not confirm reports alleging that R10 million was received in kickbacks.

www.railwaysafrica.com 41 IEC HOLDEN RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016 IEC Holden SA in motion In May 2014, Canadian-based for the 240 locomotives ordered electric motor and generator by Transnet Freight Rail from manufacturer IEC Holden Bombardier SA. Each locomotive was awarded the contract to is equipped with six AC traction manufacture AC traction motors motors with a built in gearbox – and gearboxes assembled one on each axle. Each unit weighs into complete drive units for 4,500kg. Bombardier’s Traxx Africa locomotive - part of the R50 billion Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) 1064 contract.

To meet the local content requirements of the contract, IEC Holden has invested R250 million over the last 19 months to establish "Our product is the its South African manufacturing operation. Additionally, they quality that we build invested heavily in local supplier and skills development. Bombardier designed these into the customers’ units specifically for South design. We have In mid 2014 they took occupancy African conditions including to build it to meet of the 7,000m2 facilities located in local performance requirements, Isando, Gauteng. Since then, the temperature variants and the customers’ company has achieved a BBBEE temperature parameters. requirements level 3 accreditation, as well as ISO 9001 and ISO 3834 In a recent interview with Railways whatever that accreditations. Its facility houses Africa, IEC Holden operations requirement may be." 105 employees, which is expected director Ralph Robinson stated that to grow to more than 300 in the these are the first AC drive units next 12 months. ever produced in South Africa for freight locomotives. The AC drive The contract with Bombardier units contain 70% local content, and IEC Holden requires a total of which includes manufacturing 1,440 units to be manufactured of castings and coils, machining, winding, painting, insulation, fabrication and welding of stators, brazing and balancing, as well as the testing of the completed units before they are sent to Bombardier.

"Some components are manufactured on site such as coils and stators, others are manufactured by our local suppliers that we have sourced and qualified," he says.

At the end of 2015, IEC Holden had delivered 21 units. The company has been in series production, although at low volumes, since September. At full production they expect to manufacture approximately 72 units per month.

"We will have to expand our supply base to manage our capacity to meet demands going forward," says Robinson.

42 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA IEC HOLDEN

"Some components are manufactured on site such as coils and stators, others are manufactured by our local suppliers that we have sourced and qualified,"

As a contract manufacturer, IEC "We build for the OEM and capabilities in terms of Holden builds for OEMs and to their manufacturers and we build their manufacturing motors for the specifications. product for them and nobody else, South African and African markets. and we don’t compete with them." This has potential to grow into "Our product is the quality that we manufacturing motors and build into the customers’ design. Whilst in it’s early stages, IEC generators for mining and wind We have to build it to meet the Holden has signed an agreement power throughout the continent. customers’ requirements whatever with GE Transportation SA. that requirement may be." IEC Holden expect to develop the Through the contract with Isando operation into a regional He believes that this is what sets Bombardier and the investment and potentially global exporter of them apart from their competitors. made in their facility, they have advanced manufactured electric

IECHolden_506_ad_RA_180x120_traction-V2.pdfintroduced 1 2016/02/09 new technology 1:04 PM motors and generators.

TRACTION MOTOR MANUACTURING SPECIALISTS TRSTED PARTNER TO TE ORDS EADING RAI EIPMENT OEMS

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www.railwaysafrica.com 43 COMPANY NEWS RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

ACTOM SIGNALLING COMPLETES PILOT ELECTRONIC SIGNALLING CONTRACT FOR TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL

ACTOM Signalling recently ACTOM developed the hardware completed a pilot electronic and software interfaces for all the interlocking contract for trackside equipment and the CS90 Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) remote control system. that encompassed provision of a system for a single existing "Our engineering configuration station. The validation process also programme, called Engineering required a simulated "validation Configuration Tool (ECT), has the station" containing the full scope capability to automatically generate of permutations for electronic interlocking equations for individual signalling systems. stations according to their specific layout and signalling requirements," ACTOM Signalling has developed Colborne explained. and installed an electronic system designed specifically for Crescent This custom-designed engineering station, situated near Potchefstroom configuration tool, developed ACTOM Signalling’s Frans Badenhorst (left), station in North-West Province in-house by ACTOM Signalling, is an application engineer, and Leon Pienaar, senior on the line to Klerksdorp. While extra layer of software that utilises development engineer, with the newly-installed the validation station simulation the programming tools developed electronic interlocking system in Crescent station’s relay room. ACTOM has developed as part of by Alstom. It is programmed to the pilot contract serves as a master apply TFR’s HR97 interlocking rules DC points machines have been model for all other stations, TFR to the required station layout. replaced with AC points machines. may designate the business unit to design and provide electronic "For the overall validation system The system also makes provision interlocking systems in future. we designed a dummy station for communicating with the Legacy model, including a track layout System - still in operation at the The multi-million rand contract was simulation, that incorporates all the adjacent stations Potchefstroom awarded in mid-2014 and the system features as provided for Crescent and New Machavie. at Crescent was completed and station, plus all other possible commissioned in September 2015. permutations covered in TFR’s The Crescent installation contains Required Operational Capability most of the features required in "The Crescent system will be (ROC)," he added. an electronic interlocking system monitored by TFR prior to granting serving an average small station. full and final approval of the The technology makes provision interlocking system," said Peter for both centralised and distributed "These features can be expected Colborne, ACTOM Signalling’s interlocking systems. A distributed to be included in practically all general manager. system was chosen for Crescent future systems, while the validation station for control of a total of 6 model also makes provision The core of the electronic points-sets and 26 signals, with the for any additional features interlocking system is Alstom’s new system installed in the station’s likely to be required at stations integrated Vital Processor relay room and communicating with where the signalling functions Interlocking (iVPI), a product that the trackside equipment via optical are more complex and varied, was initially developed for the North fibre cable in place of the copper such as passenger stations like American market but has been cable used in the past. The previous Johannesburg and New Canada," applied in more than 16 countries. Colborne concluded.

ALSTOM TO SUPPLY 26 CITADIS TRAM KITS FOR THE CITY OF SETIF

Through a joint-venture composed This order is part of a frame of Alstom EMA (Entreprise Métro contract that was signed in 2012 d'Alger) and Ferrovial1, Alstom is by Cital and EMA for the supply to supply 26 Citadis tram kits to of Citadis trams to serve Algerian Cital. These are to be assembled cities. Cital was created in 2010 in Alstom’s Annaba plant, east for the assembly and maintenance of Algeria. Alstom’s share of the of Citadis trams in Algeria, to contract is worth €85 million. The better support the country’s vast 26 Citadis trams were ordered by programme to develop and enhance EMA for Cital, for use in the city of urban mobility projects. This JV Setif and will circulate on a 15.2km is part of Alstom’s strategy to be line that is scheduled to enter into closer to its customer base, to Alstom Citadis tram in service at Rabat, commercial service in the first better meet their mobility demand. Morocco. Photo: Wikipedia. quarter of 20182.

44 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA COMPANY NEWS

ALSTOM’S FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVES REACH 10 MILLION KILOMETRES IN KAZAKHSTAN

On 1 February 2016, Alstom’s freight locomotives Prima "We are happy to have provided our client with a high- KZ8A reached 10 million kilometres on Kazakhstan’s rail tech product labelled 'Made in Kazakhstan'. By reaching network. 31 locos are currently in commercial operation 10 million kilometres on the Kazakhstan’s rail network, from Tobol to Ekibastuz, and Presnogorkovsk to the Prima KZ8A proved its reliability and perfect fit for Chu respectively. our customer’s needs.

The Prima KZ8A is a two-section Alternating Current "Alstom is proud to contribute and support the freight locomotive capable of towing up to 9,000 country’s ambition of becoming the hub of future tonnes and running at 120km/h. This model is currently transport corridors between Asia and Europe." said one of the most powerful in the world (8,800 kW). Bernard Peille, Managing Director Alstom Kazakhstan. Developed on the basis of KTZ (Kazakhstan Railways) technical requirements and in compliance with GOST1 The production of the locomotive is localised at the standards and specifications, the locomotive has EKZ plant in Astana, jointly owned by KTZ (50%), a cutting edge traction system based on Alstom’s Alstom (25%) and Transmashholding (25%). EKZ, as technology and components produced by Alstom and maintainer of the fleet, with the support of Alstom Transmashholding. Prima KZ8A is designed to operate expertise, has secured a 95% availability of the in temperatures from -500C to +500C. Thanks to its locomotives. Regular maintenance is conducted at modular design it provides a high reliability level and Astana and Agadyr depots. low lifecycle cost.

The Citadis trams for Setif will be environmentally friendly, pleasant, 46,400m² and houses a 1km test 44 metres long and carry up to comfortable and reliable. We track. It currently employs 90 302 passengers. The integral low are pleased to collaborate with people on the Citadis assembly line floor and the 12 side doors will our partners on this project and and has capacity to assemble five facilitate passenger flow and enable to participate in the transport trams per month. access for all, including people with development of the country" said reduced mobility. The tram will be Gian-Luca Erbacci, senior vice- Alstom has operated in Algeria equipped with air conditioning, president of Alstom Middle East for more than 60 years and has CCTV cameras and areas for and Africa. supplied integrated tramway strollers and wheelchairs. systems to the cities of Algiers, The tramway kits will be assembled Oran and Constantine as well as "Setif is now the seventh city and tested at Cital’s plant in Annaba supplying infrastructure for the in Algeria to adopt Citadis, a before delivery to the customer. tramways of Ouargla, Mostagamen mode of urban transport that is The plant covers an area of around and Setif.

1. Alstom (49%), Ferrovial (41%) and EMA (10%). 2. In 2014 Alstom, as part of a consortium with Yapi Merkezi, was awarded a contract by Setif to provide the system which includes the power supply, catenary, ticketing, telecommunications, signalling and a control centre.

www.railwaysafrica.com 45 COMPANY NEWS RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

WABTEC CONTRACT MORE CAPACITY FOR INCREASING DEMAND WORTH US$160M Frauscher expands sensor production facility at HQs in St. Marienkirchen Wabtec Corporation is providing brake systems for the 3,600 Only one year after breaking construction phase. Finally, suburban commuter coaches being ground the expansion of the after finishing all building and supplied by the Gibela consortium sensor production at Frauscher installation works, new processes to the Passenger Rail Agency of Sensor Technology was opened and ideas for improved workflows South Africa (Prasa). by CEO Michael Thiel in an internal and working conditions have ceremony. been implemented." The equipment includes brake control, bogie brakes and air Cornerstones for more capacities Best working conditions generation. Altogether the contract The new production area covers Based on experiences of operating 2 is worth about $160 million more than 500m . The foundation Frauscher products in more than to Wabtec over 10 years. The for increased capacities is built on 70 countries worldwide it is a company is to expand operations a combination of job optimisation, principle of the company to focus in South Africa significantly to various approaches to improve on working conditions too. In meet localisation requirements. the material flow and additional order to be able to fulfil national The corporation plans to increase machines. Besides two curing and international requirements its local employment and to use ovens a second vacuum potting and standards, maximum product procurement initiatives designed to line was installed. This enables a quality has to be guaranteed at any meet South African Black Economic comprehensive acceleration and time. This is achieved by combining Empowerment (BEE) policies. It automation of all processes related optimised production processes will work with training institutes to to this step. Overall, capacities with best possible designed develop skilled technical workers have been raised from 17,000 working places, to keep workflows and engineering technicians. pieces (2014) a year to 30,000 as flexible as possible. sensors. Wabtec Corporation is a global Well-equipped for steady growth provider of technology-based Various measures for As a technology leader for axle products and services for rail and optimised processes counters and wheel detection industrial markets. The company and Against the background of systems Frauscher employs more its subsidiaries manufacture a range closely linked production than 150 persons at its headquarters of products for locomotives, freight processes, the goals behind in St. Marienkirchen, Austria. wagons and passenger coaches. the expansion went far beyond creating more space, Gerald Together with all subsidiaries, the Buchinger, director Frauscher company counts more than 240 TAILOR-MADE HMI Sensor Technology reports: "The employees globally. Almost the expansion also became a base entire production of wheel sensors for job optimisation, shortening and evaluation boards is achieved Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock of lead times as well as measures in Austria. From here, Frauscher Company (DLOCO) 12.1in Pixy-HMI for securing maximum product products are shipped to the world. has been selected for a project in quality. It was a major challenge South Africa. to combine intensive planning The expansion of the sensor of technological improvements production ensures Frauscher to be The high quality and reliability and ongoing operation within perfectly equipped for increased of the technology, as well as the the production area during the demand in global railway markets. excellent technical support meet the high demands made on durability and computing performance.

To fulfil the requirements, the front plate, dimensions and various electrical components had to be modified in a short period of time.

Pixy has a long standing relationship with Dloco who has been using Pixy-HMI units in their subway trains, locomotives and trams. In some projects, Pixy has delivered the entirety of the hardware and software as a turnkey solution.

An HMI is the interface method used between human and equipment/machine. Typically, it is local to one machine or piece of Improved processes and optimised working conditions within the new equipment. (Wikipedia) Frauscher sensor production area.

46 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA COMPANY NEWS

THE KONECRANES COMPREHENSIVE AND SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO MAINTENANCE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Konecranes RopeQ.

Skilled service team. Konecranes RailQ.

Focusing on the The foundation of Services that can recommendations entire lifecycle of Lifecycle Care is provide a deeper based on industry- lifting equipment inspections and analysis of a customer's leading expertise. Konecranes has been preventive maintenance. lifting equipment present in Southern Konecranes tailors requirements and help "We don’t just drop off a Africa for many years. their CARE Preventive identify improvement report on our way out but Their knowledgeable Maintenance programme opportunities. Trained take the time to share our local technicians focus to their customers’ technicians can provide findings and discuss how on the entire lifecycle operations and take into equipment analyses each action impacts the of the crane to help account crane usage, the beyond simple visual operation of our customer. improve the safety and operating environment, inspection, such as: With our industry- productivity of customer duty classification, leading technology and operations and reduce the manufacturer’s • RopeQ™ Magnetic non-destructive testing, cost of crane ownership recommendations and Rope Inspection, we can uncover latent over the lifetime of the local regulations. which analyses the or hidden defects with crane. With insights condition of internal minimum disruption," on local requirements If a customer is looking wires, strands and says Konecranes service and evolving crane for a more comprehensive wire rope core and marketing manager technology on all types maintenance agreement • RailQ™ Crane Runway John MacDonald. of cranes, Konecranes that goes beyond Survey, which uses has developed a preventive maintenance, a remotely operated Konecranes and comprehensive Konecranes offers the robot to analyse the Southern Africa maintenance programme COMMITMENT and alignment of the With an extensive service that supports long-term COMPLETE programmes. crane rails offering that delivers safety and performance. And if a customer needs • CraneQ™ Crane Lifecycle care and a only basic service, Geometric Survey, worldwide network of Preventive maintenance Konecranes offers which provides an support, Konecranes is the foundation of the CONDITION and accurate geometric has the experience and Lifecycle Care CONTACT programmes. analysis of the crane. resources to help meet Lifecycle Care is a customer objectives, both systematic, consistent, Leading technology The Konecranes globally and locally in comprehensive and and trained specialists consultative approach South Africa. professional approach to offer a variety of can help guide customer maintenance, supported Consultation Services decision-making. Taking by world-class tools Konecranes offers a the time to meet with and processes. variety of Consultation customers to provide

www.railwaysafrica.com 47 MISHAPS RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

One objective of our regular feature reporting and commenting on rail mishaps is to provide information and object lessons from Mishaps Africa and abroad, in the hope that - in some cases at least - this might help avoid recurrences.

ANGOLAN DERAILMENT SENA LINE DERAILMENT trains remained stationary for "a long time." A freight derailment on Caminhos Heavy rains in Mozambique’s de Ferro de Luanda (CFL) in the Zambezi Valley undermined the In a call to the Dispatch newspaper last week of December resulted in Sena railway to Moatize on in East London at 16:20, a passenger a 21-day interruption in passenger 16 January, causing the derailment reported: "We have no water and no train service that only resumed of a Vale coal train and considerable food. The kids are crying. They said on 16 January. Further dislocation track damage. At one point the we would arrive in East London at was caused by heavy rain in rails were left hanging in mid-air. 09:00". the Cuanza-Norte province that The derailment occurred between caused flooding. CFL management Sinjal and Mapangali stations in Tete Asked why passengers ran out of apologised to passengers for the province but reportedly nobody water, Prasa spokesman Mthura inconvenience caused. was hurt. Caminhos de Ferro do Swartz explained that the capacity Moçambique (CFM – the state of water tanks in the trains are FIRE AT GLENCAIRN railway) sent heavy equipment, calculated on normal circumstances. from Beira and Tete, to effect "There is no backup water." On 21 January, the last two vehicles repairs as quickly as possible. of an 8-coach Metrorail 5M2A set Normally the line carries up to 25 "A delay of five hours means water caught fire near Glencairn station, trains every day, most conveying will run out", he said, adding that between Fish Hoek and Simon’s coal. A derailment in February 2013 "there are no facilities between Town. The flames ignited vegetation in which 800 metres of track was Burgersdorp and East London close to the line and a strong south- damaged cost some $US6 million in where the tanks can be filled." easter set the adjoining mountain operating losses, not including the Similarly the toilets could not cope ablaze. All passengers in the train repairs. when there were lengthy delays. were evacuated except for one – presumably a passenger - whose JOHANNESBURG-EAST Swartz confirmed a similar incident body was discovered once the fire LONDON MEYL STRANDED on 31 December when passengers had been extinguished. The flames IN HEAT-WAVE "abandoned" a train outside were carried over the mountain Queenstown. He said disciplinary to Fish Hoek, where a number A train from Johannesburg bound action was to be taken due to of houses had to be evacuated. for East London was stranded negligence on the part of the train In the event, none were burned in Burgersdorp at 07:00 for five staff. The level of diesel in the tank but it came very close and three hours in a heat-wave on 4 January. in the power car had not been helicopters fighting the blaze had to Prasa spokesman Mthura Swartz checked. When the fuel ran out, and be withdrawn because of high wind confirmed the five-hour delay, the water pumps and lights became and poor visibility in the smoke. explaining that there had been inoperable, Swartz commented Long queues of traffic formed on an "unauthorised movement by that the train "became a health and the Main Road, which had to be another train which passed a signal. safety hazard and had to stop". closed next to the burning train. When this happens, for the safety of passengers and operations, trains PE MEYL TAKES 31 HRS have to travel to certain points TO JOHANNESBURG through manual operations." Something went wrong with the Later in the extended journey, brakes on a Shosholoza Meyl when a point beyond Cathcart express from Port Elizabeth to was reached, another train Johannesburg on 3 January approaching from East London 2016. On a video clip taken by a hit a cow. Engineers had to be passenger, screeching noises could called in because of damage to be heard that began right at the the locomotive resulting in a major start of the journey, accompanied delay. Reportedly, the East London- by jerking that threw passengers bound train "suddenly stopped in around. This persisted throughout a forest outside Cathcart," face- the trip, which ended up taking to-face with another train. The two 31 hours instead of 20. The train reportedly ran out of food and

48 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA MISHAPS

water supplies and the toilets Amtrak said it would continue ACID TANKCARS DERAIL stopped flushing. Attempts to running a modified schedule. As at AT MARTINEZ phone Shosholoza Meyl offices were Tuesday 26 January, most services unsuccessful as nobody answered. would operate between 80% and There was alarm at Martinez in The train manager said there was 100% of normal levels. San Francisco’s East Bay area on nothing she could do. The train 20 January when three tankcars left Port Elizabeth at 15:15 on 3 Most Acela Express, North-east carrying sulphuric acid came off January 2016, and only arrived in Regional and other services the track beneath the Benicia road Johannesburg around 22:30 on the between Boston and Washington bridge and one turned over on its night of 4 January. DC would operate, with full side. Fortunately, there were no restoration of Keystone Service leaks and nobody was hurt. Public US STORM CUTS RAIL SERVICE between Harrisburg, Pa., and concern arose over the possibility of New York, modified North- derailments and explosions in light An unusually severe storm hit the east Regional service between of increasing shipments of crude United States east coast on Friday Washington and points in Virginia, oil by rail nationally and a number 22 January. Ten people were initially including Lynchburg, Norfolk and of high-profile derailments that reported to have died and a state Newport News. have taken place in North America. of emergency was declared in 10 Five oil refineries are located near states as well as Washington DC. Amtrak services cancelled or heavily populated areas in the Between 70 and 90cm of snow fell truncated on 26 January included: vicinity of Martinez. in various places, exacerbated by • Capitol Limited (Washington, DC winds of up to 80km/h. Airlines – Chicago), Trains 29 & 30 would cancelled more than 7,100 flights operate only between Chicago in the US on Friday and Saturday, and Pittsburgh. and an additional 7,000 flights were • Carolinian (Charlotte, NC – New delayed on Friday alone. By Friday York), Trains 79 & 80, would evening, 132,739 customers were operate between Charlotte without power across the south- and Raleigh, NC, with other east, 125,000 in the Carolinas. sections of Trains 79 & 80 Except for some below-ground operating between New York subway trains, all surface rail service Although the tankcars weren't and Washington. was halted in New York, Baltimore carrying crude oil, anti-crude-by- and Washington DC. • Palmetto (New York – Savannah, rail activists around the Bay Area Ga), Trains 89 & 90, would say this incident is a reminder of On Tuesday 26 January, Progressive operate only between New York the potential dangers inherent in Railroading reported that the and Washington. transporting explosive materials by train. Washington Metropolitan Area • Silver Star (New York – Miami), Transit Authority (WMATA) initially Trains 91 & 92, would operate only BRIDGE PARAPET HIT BY planned to reopen its Metrorail between Miami and Jacksonville. HIGH-SPEED TRAIN system in the morning, with service on all routes except the Silver Line. COCKROACHES ON TRANSLUX UK Rail Accident Investigation However, weather-related damage Branch (RAIB) report: and icing issues on the third rail On 28 December, passengers on At around 17:31 on 22 February prevented the agency from opening an overnight Translux coach from 2015, a high speed passenger train four Orange Line stations. Damage Cape Town to Port Elizabeth had (HST), the 16:34 First Great Western was discovered overnight as test to stay awake all night, fending off service from London Paddington trains ran on the line. The trains the cockroaches, which appeared – to Penzance, struck and ran over couldn't move through the area judging from the photos they took part of the fallen masonry parapet reliably and maintain third-rail - to have infested the whole vehicle. of an overline bridge at Froxfield, power to sustain service, WMATA Wiltshire. officials said. Translux said in its reply to the complaint: "We are currently The train was fully loaded with The Maryland Transit Administration reviewing our current service around 750 passengers and suspended all light-rail service on contract with the intention of was travelling at a speed of the Monday while maintenance strengthening this area of our 138km/h when the driver saw crews cleared snow and ice from the business." the obstruction. He applied the tracks. The agency operated limited emergency brake but there was light-rail service with the hope of insufficient distance to reduce the returning to normal operations by speed significantly before the train the following weekend. struck the parapet. The train did not derail. It came to a stop around 720 In New York city, MTA’s Long Island metres beyond the bridge. There Rail Road (LIRR) said it would were no injuries. The leading power resume service system-wide on car sustained damage to its leading Tuesday the 26th, after workers bogie, braking system, running gear cleared the branch lines left and underframe equipment. snowbound by the blizzard. Similar complaints about cockroaches on Translux buses appeared on the HelloPeter site late last year.

www.railwaysafrica.com 49 MISHAPS RAILWAYS AFRICA 1-2016

DERAILMENT AT BAD AXE were not among those derailed which are understood to have been Four wagons derailed on 15 January carrying grain. Several wagons near the Huron and Eastern Railway overturned onto their sides. building at the end of Irwin Street, Bad Axe, blocking Woolworth THAILAND DERAILMENT Street for some time before the DISRUPTS SERVICES wreckage could be cleared. One vehicle landed on its side, spilling On 6 January, a freight train the contents. carrying over 300,000 litres of diesel derailed near Nonglom The immediate cause of the collision Bad Axe, population 3,055 in the 2013 census, station in Lamphun province, was that the eastern parapet of Oak is a city in Michigan, USA. Surveyors Rudolph Thailand, disrupting rail service Papst and George Willis Pack, working on the Hill Road overline bridge had been first state road through Huron County in 1861, between Bangkok and cities in the pushed off and onto the tracks, by made camp at the future site of the city and north of the country. Passengers a heavy goods vehicle which had found a much-used and badly damaged axe. unable to complete their journeys reversed into it. The train had not Papst used the name "Bad Axe Camp" in the were promised fare refunds. minutes of the survey and on a sign he placed been stopped before it collided along the main trail. (Wikipedia). with the debris because of delays in informing the railway about the DERAILED WAGON obstruction on the tracks. DAMAGES FOUR CROSSINGS

RAIB has made four Four level crossings in Ogden, recommendations relating to Iowa, were damaged by a derailed the following: Union Pacific wagon that was dragged through the town on 28 • Installation of identification December, before crew members plates on all overline bridges realised what was happening. with a carriageway unless the The crossings remained blocked consequence of a parapet falling while civic authorities prepared onto the tracks or a road vehicle remedial attention. incursion at a particular bridge EVENTS AT HEATHROW are assessed as likely to be minor BRIDGE PROBLEMS IN SYDNEY TUNNEL JUNCTION • Enhancing current road vehicle incursion assessment Two of 24 concrete spans erected Rail Accident Investigation Branch procedures to include for the "Skytrain" section of a new (Raib) report: consideration of the risk from rail line to Sydney's north-west On 27 December 2014, and again on large road vehicles knocking suburbs may need to be pulled 28 December, track workers were at over parapets of overline bridges down after cracking. According serious risk of being struck by trains (two recommendations) to the Sydney Morning Herald, at the Stockley Flyover construction • Introduction of a specific the issue involves cracking in the site, on the Heathrow Airport requirement in a Railway Group precast concrete used to form the branch line. In the second incident, Standard relating to the onward elevated railway. The Skytrain is a train did collide with a small movement of a train that is being built using two gantry cranes trolley which was being placed on damaged in an incident, so that to assemble about 1,200 precast the line by track workers. During the circumstances of the incident segments up to the level of 130 the first incident, 14 track workers and the limitations of any on-site concrete piers. These segments walked along the open Down damage assessment are fully form spans between the piers, Airport line; an area where limited considered when deciding and are partly held in place by visibility meant that it was unsafe a suitable speed restriction, steel cords that run through the to do this when train services especially when there are segments. The spans have an were operating. They mistakenly passengers on board. average length of about 40 metres. believed that train services had Transport for New South Wales been stopped. A Heathrow Airport RAIB has identified two learning says there should be no delay in the to London train used the line points, one for police forces overall construction of the A$8.3 shortly after the workgroup had regarding the importance of billion Sydney Metro North-West been warned by other staff and contacting the appropriate railway project, due to open in 2019. had moved clear. The investigation control centre immediately when found that an inappropriate system the safety of the line is affected and UP DERAILMENT IN LINN was used to control access to the the other for road vehicle standards COUNTY, KANSAS track, permitting trains to start bodies and the road haulage operating when track workers industry about the benefits of On 4 January, ten of 166 wagons in could reasonably believe services having reversing cameras or sensors a Union Pacific train headed to Fort remained suspended. Staff had also fitted to heavy goods vehicles. Worth in Texas from North Platte, been directed to walk along a line Nebraska, came off the track in when paperwork showed it was [RAIB: Crown copyright] Linn County, Kansas. There were no open to traffic. injuries, and though the train was carrying hazardous materials, these

50 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA MISHAPS

The following day, two track the mandated site safety system safety-related anomalies in their workers were placing a small trolley had become normal practice. paperwork. There are two other on the Up Airport line when a train Also, formalised briefings had not learning points made which are not emerged from a nearby tunnel been supplemented by any site directly related to the incidents: a at a speed of 72 km/h. The track signage to increase the likelihood reminder to employers that they workers moved clear of the line of staff being aware of which lines should ensure that their staff have seconds before the train struck were open. received railway rule book updates; the trolley. There were no injuries and a reminder to those preparing and only minor damage. The track RAIB has made four site safety paperwork to make it workers believed the line was recommendations, all addressed comprehensive, but concise. closed, a consequence of being to Network Rail with some accustomed to working in a way also seeking input from major [RAIB Crown copyright] which differed from the mandated contractors. The first seeks an site safety system. improvement in monitoring of TFR DRIVER KILLED railway safety arrangements BY PRASA TRAIN on major construction sites. The second relates to effective On 4 January, a TFR driver was monitoring of staff controlling conducting an external inspection access to worksites. The third of diesel locomotives 37 066, 37 seeks to provide workers on major 095 and 37 019 heading train 9693 construction sites with additional which was stationary on the South sources of information about Coast main-line. The driver had the lines on which it is safe to been conveyed to the area by a work. The final recommendation TFR road vehicle. After completing seeks a review, and if necessary inspection of the first locomotive, improvement, of the railway access he walked from the Down South control systems used on large Coast line towards the Up Reunion Typical rail "skate". construction sites. line where he was knocked down by a passing Prasa Train 3020 (empty The two incidents, and other safety Three learning points are included coaches). Paramedics declared the shortcomings found, showed that to remind engineering supervisors driver deceased at 04h10. site supervision processes had that they should comply with not identified that deviation from safety requirements and query any

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DERAILMENT AT ROCKLEDGE TEN CSX LPG WAGONS DERAIL

A 57-vehicle Florida East Coast Ten CSX tankcars carrying liquefied Railway freight train travelling petroleum gas (LPG) derailed near up the coast from Miami on 21 New Martinsville, West Virginia, on December derailed the second of 24 December. Four vehicles fell on two locomotives and four wagons their sides but there were no leaks carrying containers at Rockledge at and nobody was hurt. Local fire about 05:00. The locomotive landed on its side, with the leading unit still chief Larry Couch said the railway was investigating but there was no TRAIN WASHED OFF on the track. According to Brevard BY FLOODWATERS County Fire Rescue, there was a apparent reason for the accident. diesel spill, but this was contained. No injuries were reported. One On 27 December, a Burlington southbound lane of US Highway 1, Northern Santa Fe railway (BNSF) just south of Viera Boulevard, was freight from California ran into blocked and closed indefinitely. Shoal Creek floodwaters in Neosho, Missouri. The train was stationary WEST ALABAMA DERAILMENT when it was swept off the line in its entirety, including 30 containers. Up A number of wagons – most of to 40 trains which use the route into them empty - in a Norfolk Southern Springfield daily were having to be Railway freight train derailed on rerouted while the track was rebuilt. 16 December in Vance, Alabama, near Highway 11, but had no effect DERAILMENT IN ATTICA on road traffic in the area. The reason for the accident could not be ascertained immediately but BABY ABANDONED Crews attending the scene of a investigations continue. Authorities NEXT TO RAILWAY derailment in Attica, Indiana, on say no one was injured. 2 January had to replace more On 29 November, two young men than 120 metres of track that was Vance had a population of 1,529 in the 2010 came across a baby, about two torn up. Seven grain wagons in census – Wikipedia. months old, wrapped in a blanket, a train of the Norfolk Southern lying next to the railway in Cullinan, Railway left the track while passing CAPE TOWN STATION: east of Pretoria. They took the through the town. Three wagons FIVE COACHES GUTTED child to the local police, who are remained upright while four fell off investigating a case of child neglect. to the side. The incident is under Five Metrorail coaches were gutted investigation. when a fire broke out at platform SULPHURIC ACID IN 15 on Cape Town’s main station on AUSTRALIAN DERAILMENT. The population of Attica was 3,245 at the 2010 Sunday 27 December. No injuries census. - Wikipedia were reported. The municipal Heavy rains are believed to be fire department attended and responsible for the derailing of UK MAIN-LINE extinguished the flames. A cleaner the locomotive and 26 tankcars REOPENS AFTER FLOODS told the press the train had been at in a freight train about 20km east the station the entire day and no of Julia Creek in Queensland. Two days after the UK West Coast people were on it at the time the About 200,000 litres of sulphuric main-line north of Carlisle was fire started. She was on the platform acid were on board. Three crew submerged under more than 2 at the time. City fire and rescue members were hurt and taken to metres of water on 5 December, spokesman Theo Layne said the fire hospital. A state of emergency was engineers managed to reopen it started at about 16:00 on Sunday. declared in a two-kilometre radius to traffic. Mud and other debris around the site and all train services had to be removed and signalling Layne said they had to wait for the in the area were cancelled. Details apparatus repaired. The Cumbrian power to be isolated before they remain unclear as there was no Coast Line between Carlisle and could act. Metrorail has offered a access to the accident scene as all Workington remained closed for reward of R100,000 for information roads were under water at the time. several more days however, while leading to the conviction of those work crews tackled three landslides responsible. INDIAN DERAILMENT and two flood sites.

The derailing of a Khurda-bound DERAILMENT IN goods train between the Garividi WESTERN AUSTRALIA and Cheepurupalli stations on 21 December disrupted train The Australian Transport Safety services in the Visakhapatnam- Bureau (ATSB) is investigating an Palasa area. Some trains were incident on 11 December between cancelled, others short terminated Rawlinna and Naretha, 350km east or diverted. of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, when 39 wagons in a 59-wagon container train from Perth derailed. Some 600 metres of track were

52 www.railwaysafrica.com 1-2016 RAILWAYS AFRICA MISHAPS

torn up, vehicles towards the rear Equipment was brought in from UK CONTAINER ACCIDENTS of the train were badly damaged Houston but Texas transportation and a fire started in a refrigerated department officials anticipated The UK Rail Accident Investigation food van. No hazardous cargo it would take two days to get all Branch (RAIB) has released its was involved, there were no fuel 64 wagons upright and back on report into two incidents involving spills and no one was injured in the the rails. containers detaching from freight accident. However, two relief drivers trains. On 7 March 2015, an empty travelling in a crew van at the head FIRE CLOSES 30ft container became detached of the train were "badly shaken" MARYLEBONE STATION from a freight train on the West when it rolled onto its side. Coast main-line at Scout Green, A coach air conditioning unit is Cumbria. It fell over the adjacent SIXTY-FOUR WAGONS believed to have been the cause of track and came to rest down an BLOWN OFF BRIDGE a fire on a train entering Marylebone embankment. There was no damage station in Central London. Train to the railway infrastructure or to On Sunday morning 13 December, operator Chiltern Railways other trains. A sleeper train had high winds blew down street signs, suspended services and some 700 passed the site in the opposite power lines, trees and advertising people were evacuated from the direction about four minutes earlier. billboards in Lufkin, Texas. A train station. Five fire crews attended. comprising 64 empty wagons was In a separate incident on 31 March blown off the track. Loop 287/ CN GRAIN TRAIN 2015, an empty 40ft container was North John Redditt Drive was DERAILS NEAR HINTON blown off a freight train by high blocked at the point where the track winds near Deeping St Nicholas, crosses on a bridge, effectively On 10 December, a Canadian Lincolnshire. The container was closing the road from Highway National freight train derailed 12 dragged a short distance by the 103 West to Highway 69 North. loaded grain wagons near Hinton, train, causing extensive damage to about 288km west of Edmonton the infrastructure, before coming in Alberta. The incident is under to rest on the adjacent track. There investigation by the Transportation were no passenger services in the Safety Board of Canada (TSB). area at the time although a freight Reportedly there were no injuries train had passed the site about five and no hazardous cargo was minutes earlier. involved.

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mitigated by procedural measures, draft charge sheet, the accused to the need for the systematic faces 189 charges, which include integration of freight operating theft of copper cables, racketeering, companies’ operating procedures malicious damage to property and with Network Rail’s procedures. money laundering.

[RAIB Crown copyright] Two undercover police agents took in copper cabling weighing 449kg CABLE THEFT COSTS to Afro Metals whose cashier paid TRANSNET R1.6M A DAY them R17,700.

In both cases, the container In an affidavit handed to the METRORAIL CURTAILED detachments were caused by strong Pietermaritzburg High Court, gusting winds combined with the Transnet Freight Rail senior Intensive services on Metrorail’s speed of the trains, and defective investigator Zacharias de Bruin Central Line in Cape Town had to means of securing the containers. says the theft of overhead copper be cut short at Mandalay, on the conductor cable delays on average outskirts of Khayelitsha, when Recommendations 3,285 trains annually or 9 per a illegal electrical connections The circumstances of these events day. Once one includes penalties, were discovered crossing the were very similar to container replacement expenses and related track. Adjoining residents had detachments at Hardendale and sundries, this costs Transnet R1.6 tapped the municipal supply, Cheddington in 2008, which were million a day, equivalent to R584 taking wires across the railway investigated by the RAIB. That million for a full year. Damage and were supplying electricity to investigation report made a number caused could result in trains people on the other side of the of recommendations which, had colliding and loss of life, he adds. track. Technicians said the illegal they been implemented, would wiring was inadequate to carry the have prevented these further The police "Operation Nuclear" current and posed a danger to train detachments. This report, therefore, has led to the arrests of 26 people, services. Services were resumed makes no further recommendations. including one Bashier Rashid, once the wiring had been removed However, three learning points have owner of the firm Afro Metals with but affected residents began been identified. These relate to the branches in Phoenix and Stanger, protest action that caused further implementation of the previous who currently is standing trial in disruptions. recommendations and, where risk is Pietermaritzburg. According to the GM848 PRESSLINK_VANRAIL Keeping air FLOWing eFFicientLy

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RAILWAYS FINED The fastest services will link FOR CARTEL León and Madrid in 2 hours The longer the journey and 6 minutes, a 44-minute improvement compared with "Collusion in marketing" in the They say that you get what you pay for, block train sector between July the current journey time. Initially So the longer you spend on a train - 2004 and June 2012 resulted the line will operate with trains in fines by the European running at a maximum speed The better the value for money. Commission for subsidiaries of of 200km/h because ETCS has An hour or two late means you gain. Austrian Federal Railways and not yet been commissioned. Deutsche Bahn. The former paid A build-maintain contract to €17.4m and the latter €31.8m. equip the Valladolid-León and Where from is this urge to go quickly, Express Interfracht and Schenker the Valladolid-Burgos high- With all the best scenery missed - speed lines with ETCS Level were also part of the cartel At Beaufort and Kraankuil and Witput - but parent Kuhne & Nagel was 2 was awarded to an Alstom- granted immunity and escaped Bombardier-Indra consortium And everywhere else on the list? a fine of €62m because it in March 2014, with a delivery reported the cartel’s existence. time of 24 months. When ETCS You can’t beat a leisurely journey, According to the Commission, is commissioned, the maximum With masses of time on your hands. the three companies allocated speed will rise to 300km/h. customers, co-ordinated prices South Africa’s trains aren’t the fastest, and exchanged confidential GERMANY-AUSTRIA But you’re left with more time for LINK CLOSED information on requests for your Rands. their Balkantrain and Soptrain services. "Intrinsic upstream Due to the imposition of co-ordination", the commission frontier controls by the German Though Transnet trains might be smallish, decided - such as joint purchasing government, Deutsche Bahn (DB) They fit what’s in place overhead. of traction and other services - is announced on 21 September that Locos at Prasa walk proudly and tall, not anti-competitive. The fines it was suspending all passenger would have been higher had the trains between Germany and But wires in the sky leave them dead. companies denied liability and not Austria on the busy Munich cooperated with the investigation. to Salzburg route. For much of September, the number of ~LRD SINGLE TRACK HIGH refugees trying to reach Germany SPEED IN SPAIN has been greater than the capacity of the rail network. All The new 162.7km Valladolid- long-distance services between Palencia-León high-speed line Munich and Salzburg were was officially inaugurated on 29 suspended. Some services were September. Around 50% of the operating either east of Salzburg 110km stretch from Palencia to and terminating there or solely in León is single track. This will be Germany, terminating in Munich. the first of several high-speed lines in Spain which will open Services routed via Rosenheim with only a single track installed which run non-stop in Germany - despite being designed and were operating normally. built for double track - in a bid to minimise construction and maintenance costs on those routes where present demand will be well below capacity.

SOUTH AFRICA RAILROAD 2016 POSTPONED

The South Africa RailRoad 2016 conference, which was scheduled to be held on the 22 and 23 February, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa, has been postponed until further notice.

According to conference organisers, the opening of the Gauteng Legislature Assembly scheduled for 22 February 2016 coincides with the event and is hampering key government sector attendance.

New dates shall be assigned soon and advised accordingly for the month of November 2016.

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