COAL, ORE, MANGANESE RAILINGS IMPROVE
Throughputs of coal, iron ore and manganese export traffic, to Richards Bay, Saldanha and Port Elizabeth respectively, have all increased in recent months, according to the South African Chamber of Mines. Though it is understood that actual figures are not exactly startling, the improvement is to be welcomed, following years of complaint from the mining [...]
COSATU ANNOUNCES METRORAIL STRIKE ACTION
The Congress of Trade Unions in South Africa (Cosatu) has reiterated intentions to strike on 6 December, to draw governmental attention to declining standards in suburban train services in the city. Western Cape Cosatu head Tony Ehrenreich says there have been many promises over the years but things are not getting any better. According to [...]
BOTSWANA COAL
Following the concept study in September that confirmed the viability of Botswana’s Sese coal project, African Energy Resources has begun bulk sampling work. According to the earlier findings, extraction of up to 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in a first-stage initial operation could generate cash flow with effect from 2013 through selling washed coal [...]
KZN-EAST LONDON DIRECT RAIL MOOTED
On 29 August 1906, a 278km line was opened from Sterkstroom (272km from East London on the main-line to the interior) to Maclear. In 1916, a 358km line entered service from Amabele, 76km from East London (also on the main-line) to Umtata, now Mthatha. Both lines ran in a generally northerly direction, with hopes of [...]
BULAWAYO NEWS
Chas Rickwood on zimrail: “Managed to get to the main workshops yesterday [22 November] in company of the passenger services manager and museum custodian Gordon Murray….we went to check on museum assets currently in the workshops, ie • Dining car 644 Vumba in a very dilapidated state after coming off the Beit Bridge run a [...]
SCHEDULED FREIGHT TRAINS
At Transnet Freight Rail, trains running to schedule are the current flavour of the moment. The new scheme of things was implemented several months back and results to date are encouraging. So much so there’ve been pats on the back from parts of the mining industry, a perennial source of dissatisfaction with rail service, one [...]
LAGOS BLUE LINE PROGRESS
On 27 November, Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola inspected progress on Blue Line construction together with Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) deputy managing director Shi Hongbing. Afterwards he said he is confident the first eight kilometres will be complete in 2012.
Environmental approval
Environmental approval for the Mbalam mine, railway and Lolabe port project in Cameroon was granted in 2010. The government has now declared the extent of land along the rail corridor which it intends to acquire so that the line can be built. No further property transactions or construction will be permitted in this strip.
FISHING IN THE CHIMNEY OF A MODIFED FAIRLIE
Andre Kritzinger received an interesting note commenting on his superb South African loco series for Wikipedia. Dr Raimund Loubser, son of Dr M M Loubser (former SAR chief mechanical engineer) and brother of Dr Kobus Loubser (who was SAR general manager some years later) explained that he graduated at the University of Stellenbosch in 1948, [...]
ERITREAN STEAM TOUR
FarRail Tours, based in Germany, has arranged a tour to Eritrea, starting on 28 January 2012 and ending on 2 February. Organiser Bernd Seiler explains: “Eritrea’s history and its phenomenal railway not only attract railway enthusiasts, they also create dreams for film producers. An innovative, young film producer has developed an interesting concept for a [...]
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