The Final Countdown..........!!
All eyes are now on the Dawlish line reopening tomorrow morning....
It seems that more eyes are now on HS2, and other franchises, given the consultancy role for JR East Railways.... but they do know a thing or two about high speed Shinkansen.. about 50 years worth of know how.
RAIB have published a report, with recommendations, on recent landslip episodes on Network Rail - if only Tazara Railway can overcome its problems ..see Sean Langan's film on BBC iPlayer.. within the next 6 days...
Read on...
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch(RAIB) full report "Class investigation into landslips affecting Network Rail infrastructure between June 2012 and February 2013" can be read
HERE
Network Rail acknowledges that risk to the railway can arise from earthworks and drainage on neighbouring land, and its processes require that it gives consideration to these risks. These arrangements are currently being updated (paragraph 127).
This investigation has identified six issues which will remain after the implementation of the new arrangements:
- earthwork examiners cannot always see all relevant features beyond the fence line (paragraph 105, Recommendation 1);
- l Network Rail formal processes can result in Network Rail’s geotechnical staff being unaware that earthwork examinations have identified loose boulders or some other issues of concern if the earthwork has been categorised as marginal or serviceable by the algorithm used for earthwork categorisation (paragraph 109, Recommendation 2);
- l Network Rail processes do not provide a robust means of identifying activities on neighbouring land which could increase railway risk between routine examinations (paragraph 118, Recommendation 1);
- l Network Rail staff do not routinely review the land management strategy applicable to neighbouring land as required by current Network Rail standards (paragraph 121, Recommendation 1);
- l some very severe rainfall events are neither forecast nor detected by real-time rainfall monitoring (paragraph 140, Recommendation 3); and
- l there is no explicit provision for earthworks which could become unstable due to rainfall events significantly worse than those normally associated with a red warning (paragraph 148, Recommendation 5).
Okehampton business park proposal announced.(BBC News)
Tube passengers trapped in 'stifling' lift with alarm sounding for over an hour.(London Evening Standard)
Gillan: MPs face 'tight timescale' on HS2 consultation.(BucksFreePress)
JR-East to advise on HS2(Global Rail News)
HS2 station still ‘up for debate’. (Sheffield Telegraph)
More government spending to boost the economy..on rail projects, social housing..
PTC development in Alaska quickens as Wabtec granted $16.6m contract.
(SmartRail World)
DANISH State Railways (DSB) has been granted permission to purchase 67 Bombardier double-deck coaches..
Spanish rail operator Renfe has revealed plans to invest in installation of surveillance technology in the driver cabins of 240 trains.
Germany's VMS contracts Alstom for 29 Coradia Continental regional trains
Germany's Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS) has contracted French train manufacturer Alstom to deliver 29 Coradia Continental electrical trains in a €150m deal.
Northern Rail to launch electric trains in UK from December
UK rail operator Northern Rail has entered into an agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT) to launch the first set of electric trains in the north-west from December.
Qatar Rail to deploy QMIC's Masarak platform to support rail operations
Qatar Railways Company has partnered with Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) to deploy QMIC's Masarak platform and services to support rail operations, offering traffic monitoring, logistics management and road safety.
Don't miss this exciting high speed rail event! West Coast Rail Conference - June 2-4 in San Francisco.
High-speed rail leader cries foul over Rep. Ryan's proposal to end Amtrak funding
CSX, UP open new intermodal terminals
STB seeks public comments on railroad revenue adequacy methodologies
Valley Metro to build solar plant at light-rail facility
California construction authority seeks bids for L.A.-area grade separation
The Rail Engineer
The last piece in the jigsaw
African Railway (BBC iPlayer)
This is a 60 minute documentary (available for 6 more days on BBC iPlayer) about Tazara Railway...the Freedom Railway
Sean Langan rides the rails of the Tazara railroad, whose passenger and goods trains travel through spectacular scenery and a game park teeming with wild animals.
History of the line...It was built by the Chinese just after independence to link Zambia's copper belt to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, and once carried the region's hopes and dreams, hence "Freedom Railway". But now it is in crisis. Every day there are derailments, trains running out of fuel and mechanical breakdowns.
We meet the train crews, controllers and maintenance crews who battle to keep it going.
This film was made in 2010....
How different are things now...?
A selection of news release from Tazara Railways website..
BOARD APPROVES FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR TAZARA
TAZARA ORDERS FOUR NEW LOCOMOTIVES
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has sealed a contract with the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), for the manufacture and supply of four new mainline locomotives with accompanying consumables and spare parts valued at Chinese RMB Yuan 85 million (approximately USD12.45 million) (USD1.00 = RMB Yuan 6.83).
Eng. Ronald Phiri, the Acting Managing Director of TAZARA and Mr Miao Zhong, the TAZARA-based Chinese Railway Experts Team Leader, who signed the contract on behalf of TAZARA and CCECC, respectively, also confirmed that CSR Qishuyan Locomotive Company Limited of China will manufacture the 3000-Horsepower Diesel Electric SDD20 locomotives.
The four SDD20 Locomotives, expected to be delivered by December 2014, are the second batch of the type to be manufactured by CSR for TAZARA, the first batch of six having been introduced on the line this year (2013).
Key factor in the strategic plan
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Eng. Ronald Phiri said that having reviewed and agreed on the specifications of the locomotives with CCECC, he was extremely delighted to sign the contract, effectively giving the manufacturer a go-ahead signal to begin manufacturing the locomotives, which would be needed as soon as possible.
Eng. Phiri said that the acquisition of the four additional locomotives was a key factor and an integral part of the recently approved Five-Year Strategic Plan which envisaged the enhancement of the Authority’s hauling capacity in an effort to escalate the volume of cargo and revenue in the second year of the strategic plan, in 2014.
“The sooner we get these locomotives and start delivering on our 2014/2015 targets, the better,” the Acting Managing Director said whilst emphasizing that the idea was to improve both the availability and reliability of the equipment.
TAZARA now has a fleet of about 16 mainline locomotives at its disposal, six of which are newly acquired Diesel Electric SDD20 Locomotives and the remaining 10 being the old Diesel Electric U30C Locomotives that are aged over 25 years and whose reliability has reduced drastically in recent years due to overuse and lack of proper maintenance.
Better times ahead
Eng. Phiri observed that the first batch of the six SDD20 locomotives posed a few teething challenges when they were introduced onto the TAZARA line earlier this year, but had since been fine-tuned and were performing satisfactorily.
So far, the SDD20 has been commended as powerful and ideal for the TAZARA terrain after performing exceptionally well in the last three months.
“We are confident that having observed the first batch of the SDD20 locos under three months of trials followed by three months of actual utilization, the next batch of the SDD20 locos would come with even higher quality and level of reliability,” said Eng. Phiri.
Eng. Phiri said that all indications were that TAZARA was heading for better times, especially that the two shareholding governments had given a go-ahead for private sector partnerships, which were expected to fill the investment gaps in needy areas of operations.
“So far so good, in terms of capacity enhancement in the equipment arena. With the invitation of the private sector in our operations, we now expect other areas such as the railway infrastructure itself to be serviced and maintained to appreciable levels in order to increase our efficiency to the satisfaction of our customers,” observed Eng. Phiri.
15th Protocol
The four mainline locomotives are part of the projects with a value of RMB Yuan 270 million (approximately US$40 million) to be undertaken under the 15th Protocol of Economic and Technical Cooperation (15th Protocol) signed by the three Governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia on 26 March 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia, aimed at supporting and boosting the operations of TAZARA.
Apart from the supply of four new mainline locomotives and accompanying consumables, other projects covered under the 15th Protocol include the supply of two shunting locomotives, new passenger coaches, various rescue and lifting equipment, track trolleys, assorted spare parts and 30,000 pieces of wooden sleepers as well as training of staff in various railway skills and attachment of Chinese Railway Experts to TAZARA over a specified period.
RMB Yuan 2.5 billion
TAZARA has been receiving regular financial support from the Chinese Government through what are termed as “Protocols of Economic and Technical Co-operation” signed with Tanzania and Zambia in the form of interest free loans. The six SDD20 locomotives that were recently received and introduced on the TAZARA line were part of the 14th Protocol projects.
Since inception, TAZARA has received financial support to the tune of more than RMB Yuan 2.5 billion of interest free loans, including the TAZARA construction loan and other loans under the Protocols of Economic and Technical Co-operation, which are currently in the 15th phase.
TAZARA AND IMPALA AGREE TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY OF OPEN TRACK ACCESS
Business and political leaders will come together with the world's top experts to bring high speed rail to America.
Construction is underway on the first phase of the state-wide, 800-mile state-of-the-art transportation system set to revolutionize mobility in America.
This new rail system will carry more than 100 million people each year once built out - saving time, money, energy, and lives daily for decades. Don't miss it!
High-speed rail leader cries foul over Rep. Ryan's proposal to end Amtrak funding
CSX, UP open new intermodal terminals
STB seeks public comments on railroad revenue adequacy methodologies
Valley Metro to build solar plant at light-rail facility
California construction authority seeks bids for L.A.-area grade separation
The Rail Engineer
Work is underway on the 2km railway flyover which will signal the end of an £895 million transformation of the station and surrounding railway infrastructure in Reading.
Back to Victoria
The Rail Engineer revisits London Underground's Victoria station to see the progress being made.
Mungo Stacy looks at the role of signal gantry XTD 3736 in the delivery of Thameslink Key Output 2.
Forget IEP, NET and HS2. Give ERTMS a miss. These high-gloss ventures might catch the eye but they have no soul, submerged in binary code...
Stuart Marsh examines Direct Rail Services' (DRS) new Class 68 diesel-electric locomotive.
See the full digital edition here - now downloadable.
And now for something a little different..and older!!
African Railway (BBC iPlayer)
This is a 60 minute documentary (available for 6 more days on BBC iPlayer) about Tazara Railway...the Freedom Railway
Sean Langan rides the rails of the Tazara railroad, whose passenger and goods trains travel through spectacular scenery and a game park teeming with wild animals.
History of the line...It was built by the Chinese just after independence to link Zambia's copper belt to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, and once carried the region's hopes and dreams, hence "Freedom Railway". But now it is in crisis. Every day there are derailments, trains running out of fuel and mechanical breakdowns.
We meet the train crews, controllers and maintenance crews who battle to keep it going.
This film was made in 2010....
How different are things now...?
A selection of news release from Tazara Railways website..
BOARD APPROVES FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR TAZARA
Dec 16, 2013
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) Board of Directors has approved TAZARA’s new five-year strategic plan for 2013 – 2018, with an indicative budget outlay of US$211.0 million from which US$177.0 million will be applied on the enhancement of capacity in critical areas of operations.
As directed by the shareholding governments of Tanzania and Zambia, the Strategic Plan has for the first time underpinned private sector participation in the Authority’s operations, with at least 15% of investment funds initially expected to be sourced through strategic partnerships with willing customers and other stakeholders.
Other funds are to be sourced from internally generated revenues and shareholder support, including loans obtained by the two shareholding governments from the government of the People’s Republic of China through the Protocols of Economic and Technical Co-operation.
At meetings held in Lusaka, Zambia, on 5th and 6th December 2013, chaired by Mrs. Charity Kaande Ngoma, who is the Permanent Secretary responsible for Transport in Zambia, the Board of Directors endorsed management’s strategic intent to actively engage stakeholders in order to meet TAZARA’s critical requirements for both re-capitalisation and working capital.
“Now that the framework has been approved, we shall immediately embark on discussions with strategic partners in order to quickly secure sufficient investment funding for key needy areas of operations,” said the Acting Managing Director of TAZARA, Eng. Ronald Phiri.
Wide growth plan
From the US$211.0 million budget outlay, US$90.0 million is to be spent on rehabilitation, repairs and purchase of rolling stock, including locomotives, wagons and coaches, whilst US$64.0 million will go towards infrastructure development, US$22.0 million towards human resource development and US$1.0 million towards the upgrade of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) profile.
Given the addition of the already acquired six new locomotives to the fleet in 2013 and the other four new locomotives expected in 2014 under the 15th Protocol of Economic and Technical Co-operation, the plan envisages a wide traffic growth path from the annual tonnage of 480,000 tonnes in 2013, gradually rising up to 1.5 million tonnes by 2018.
With such an increase in traffic volumes, the annual revenue is projected to proportionately grow from US$48.0 million in 2013 to US$122.0 million in 2018.
Great prospects in sight
At the Lusaka meeting, the Acting Managing Director informed the Board of Directors, who included members from both Tanzania and Zambia, that due to many years of insufficient recapitalization, TAZARA was suffering from serious capacity constraints, which made it difficult to develop business to sustainable levels despite the abundant availability of large volumes of imports, exports as well as local traffic throughout the year.
Eng. Phiri said the Strategic Plan had reviewed issues and challenges the Authority encountered in the last five years and prescribed what needed to be done to increase capacity and, therefore, improve performance over the next five years.
“Having considered the important issues that need addressing in the next five years, we firmly believe that great prospects are in sight,” said Eng. Phiri, who noted that funding for investment in the development and maintenance of the railway infrastructure had been the least prioritized area in the past.
Shareholder directives
On 13th November 2013 in Dar es Salaam, the TAZARA Council of Ministers, which is the highest policy organ of TAZARA, directed the Board of Directors and Management to work out a framework for incorporating private sector participation in the Authority’s operations and future investment plans.
The Council of Ministers had observed that both the Tanzanian and Zambian Governments were increasingly finding it difficult to justify the continued putting of tax-payers’ money into TAZARA, when infact the Authority had the potential to not only be self-sustaining but declaring dividends as well.
As directed by the shareholding governments of Tanzania and Zambia, the Strategic Plan has for the first time underpinned private sector participation in the Authority’s operations, with at least 15% of investment funds initially expected to be sourced through strategic partnerships with willing customers and other stakeholders.
Other funds are to be sourced from internally generated revenues and shareholder support, including loans obtained by the two shareholding governments from the government of the People’s Republic of China through the Protocols of Economic and Technical Co-operation.
At meetings held in Lusaka, Zambia, on 5th and 6th December 2013, chaired by Mrs. Charity Kaande Ngoma, who is the Permanent Secretary responsible for Transport in Zambia, the Board of Directors endorsed management’s strategic intent to actively engage stakeholders in order to meet TAZARA’s critical requirements for both re-capitalisation and working capital.
“Now that the framework has been approved, we shall immediately embark on discussions with strategic partners in order to quickly secure sufficient investment funding for key needy areas of operations,” said the Acting Managing Director of TAZARA, Eng. Ronald Phiri.
Wide growth plan
From the US$211.0 million budget outlay, US$90.0 million is to be spent on rehabilitation, repairs and purchase of rolling stock, including locomotives, wagons and coaches, whilst US$64.0 million will go towards infrastructure development, US$22.0 million towards human resource development and US$1.0 million towards the upgrade of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) profile.
Given the addition of the already acquired six new locomotives to the fleet in 2013 and the other four new locomotives expected in 2014 under the 15th Protocol of Economic and Technical Co-operation, the plan envisages a wide traffic growth path from the annual tonnage of 480,000 tonnes in 2013, gradually rising up to 1.5 million tonnes by 2018.
With such an increase in traffic volumes, the annual revenue is projected to proportionately grow from US$48.0 million in 2013 to US$122.0 million in 2018.
Great prospects in sight
At the Lusaka meeting, the Acting Managing Director informed the Board of Directors, who included members from both Tanzania and Zambia, that due to many years of insufficient recapitalization, TAZARA was suffering from serious capacity constraints, which made it difficult to develop business to sustainable levels despite the abundant availability of large volumes of imports, exports as well as local traffic throughout the year.
Eng. Phiri said the Strategic Plan had reviewed issues and challenges the Authority encountered in the last five years and prescribed what needed to be done to increase capacity and, therefore, improve performance over the next five years.
“Having considered the important issues that need addressing in the next five years, we firmly believe that great prospects are in sight,” said Eng. Phiri, who noted that funding for investment in the development and maintenance of the railway infrastructure had been the least prioritized area in the past.
Shareholder directives
On 13th November 2013 in Dar es Salaam, the TAZARA Council of Ministers, which is the highest policy organ of TAZARA, directed the Board of Directors and Management to work out a framework for incorporating private sector participation in the Authority’s operations and future investment plans.
The Council of Ministers had observed that both the Tanzanian and Zambian Governments were increasingly finding it difficult to justify the continued putting of tax-payers’ money into TAZARA, when infact the Authority had the potential to not only be self-sustaining but declaring dividends as well.
TAZARA ORDERS FOUR NEW LOCOMOTIVES
Dec 30, 2013
TAZARA ORDERS FOUR NEW LOCOMOTIVES FOR $12.45M
Eng. Ronald Phiri, the Acting Managing Director of TAZARA and Mr Miao Zhong, the TAZARA-based Chinese Railway Experts Team Leader, who signed the contract on behalf of TAZARA and CCECC, respectively, also confirmed that CSR Qishuyan Locomotive Company Limited of China will manufacture the 3000-Horsepower Diesel Electric SDD20 locomotives.
The four SDD20 Locomotives, expected to be delivered by December 2014, are the second batch of the type to be manufactured by CSR for TAZARA, the first batch of six having been introduced on the line this year (2013).
Key factor in the strategic plan
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Eng. Ronald Phiri said that having reviewed and agreed on the specifications of the locomotives with CCECC, he was extremely delighted to sign the contract, effectively giving the manufacturer a go-ahead signal to begin manufacturing the locomotives, which would be needed as soon as possible.
Eng. Phiri said that the acquisition of the four additional locomotives was a key factor and an integral part of the recently approved Five-Year Strategic Plan which envisaged the enhancement of the Authority’s hauling capacity in an effort to escalate the volume of cargo and revenue in the second year of the strategic plan, in 2014.
“The sooner we get these locomotives and start delivering on our 2014/2015 targets, the better,” the Acting Managing Director said whilst emphasizing that the idea was to improve both the availability and reliability of the equipment.
TAZARA now has a fleet of about 16 mainline locomotives at its disposal, six of which are newly acquired Diesel Electric SDD20 Locomotives and the remaining 10 being the old Diesel Electric U30C Locomotives that are aged over 25 years and whose reliability has reduced drastically in recent years due to overuse and lack of proper maintenance.
Better times ahead
Eng. Phiri observed that the first batch of the six SDD20 locomotives posed a few teething challenges when they were introduced onto the TAZARA line earlier this year, but had since been fine-tuned and were performing satisfactorily.
So far, the SDD20 has been commended as powerful and ideal for the TAZARA terrain after performing exceptionally well in the last three months.
“We are confident that having observed the first batch of the SDD20 locos under three months of trials followed by three months of actual utilization, the next batch of the SDD20 locos would come with even higher quality and level of reliability,” said Eng. Phiri.
Eng. Phiri said that all indications were that TAZARA was heading for better times, especially that the two shareholding governments had given a go-ahead for private sector partnerships, which were expected to fill the investment gaps in needy areas of operations.
“So far so good, in terms of capacity enhancement in the equipment arena. With the invitation of the private sector in our operations, we now expect other areas such as the railway infrastructure itself to be serviced and maintained to appreciable levels in order to increase our efficiency to the satisfaction of our customers,” observed Eng. Phiri.
The four mainline locomotives are part of the projects with a value of RMB Yuan 270 million (approximately US$40 million) to be undertaken under the 15th Protocol of Economic and Technical Cooperation (15th Protocol) signed by the three Governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia on 26 March 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia, aimed at supporting and boosting the operations of TAZARA.
Apart from the supply of four new mainline locomotives and accompanying consumables, other projects covered under the 15th Protocol include the supply of two shunting locomotives, new passenger coaches, various rescue and lifting equipment, track trolleys, assorted spare parts and 30,000 pieces of wooden sleepers as well as training of staff in various railway skills and attachment of Chinese Railway Experts to TAZARA over a specified period.
RMB Yuan 2.5 billion
TAZARA has been receiving regular financial support from the Chinese Government through what are termed as “Protocols of Economic and Technical Co-operation” signed with Tanzania and Zambia in the form of interest free loans. The six SDD20 locomotives that were recently received and introduced on the TAZARA line were part of the 14th Protocol projects.
Since inception, TAZARA has received financial support to the tune of more than RMB Yuan 2.5 billion of interest free loans, including the TAZARA construction loan and other loans under the Protocols of Economic and Technical Co-operation, which are currently in the 15th phase.
TAZARA AND IMPALA AGREE TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY OF OPEN TRACK ACCESS
Jan 21, 2014
The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and Impala Warehousing and Logistics International BV (Impala), a company incorporated in the Netherlands, and having globally affiliated branches and offices, have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pave way for the process of working out an Agreement that will allow Impala to have track access and operate their own trains on the TAZARA line.
In order to structure the Partnership Proposal, Impala has contracted VECTURIS of Belgium as the railway operator who have immediately embarked on a technical and operational due diligence aimed at having a perfect understanding of the prevailing operating and technical environment, including the assessment of infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance needs.
VECTURIS has undertaken to complete the due diligence and prepare a Partnership Proposal within 90 days from the date of signing the MOU.
Once concluded, and subject to the approval of TAZARA’s and VECTURIS’ Boards of Directors, the Track Access and Operating Agreements will mark the beginning of private-sector participation in the operations of TAZARA, a development that TAZARA’s highest policy organ, the TAZARA Council of Ministers has already sanctioned as a means for attracting non-equity private-sector investments in the absence of sufficient funding from the two shareholding governments of Tanzania and Zambia.
Win-win affair
TAZARA is currently suffering from many challenges that are a consequence of many years of under-capitalisation and lack of sufficient working capital to sustain operations.
Engineer Ronald Phiri, the Managing Director of TAZARA welcomed the development:
“This MOU is in line with the shareholders’ aspirations to re-capitalise TAZARA and enhance operational efficiency, which is what all stakeholders desire.”
Eng. Phiri added:
“In November 2013 in Dar es Salaam, the TAZARA Council of Ministers directed us to work out a framework for incorporating private sector participation in the Authority’s operations and future investment plans.
“This is where we are now, easing the pressure off the tax-payer by bringing in private sector investments, without necessarily altering the shareholding structure.”
Eric Peiffer,"
To Be Continued.......
In order to structure the Partnership Proposal, Impala has contracted VECTURIS of Belgium as the railway operator who have immediately embarked on a technical and operational due diligence aimed at having a perfect understanding of the prevailing operating and technical environment, including the assessment of infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance needs.
VECTURIS has undertaken to complete the due diligence and prepare a Partnership Proposal within 90 days from the date of signing the MOU.
Once concluded, and subject to the approval of TAZARA’s and VECTURIS’ Boards of Directors, the Track Access and Operating Agreements will mark the beginning of private-sector participation in the operations of TAZARA, a development that TAZARA’s highest policy organ, the TAZARA Council of Ministers has already sanctioned as a means for attracting non-equity private-sector investments in the absence of sufficient funding from the two shareholding governments of Tanzania and Zambia.
Win-win affair
Engineer Ronald Phiri, the Managing Director of TAZARA welcomed the development:
“This MOU is in line with the shareholders’ aspirations to re-capitalise TAZARA and enhance operational efficiency, which is what all stakeholders desire.”
Eng. Phiri added:
“In November 2013 in Dar es Salaam, the TAZARA Council of Ministers directed us to work out a framework for incorporating private sector participation in the Authority’s operations and future investment plans.
“This is where we are now, easing the pressure off the tax-payer by bringing in private sector investments, without necessarily altering the shareholding structure.”
Eric Peiffer,"
To Be Continued.......
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