Rail infrastructure challenges abound
Other Transport News
Airlink now has international marketing and sales representation on all five continents
South African regional airline company Airlink now has representation in markets in North America and Asia. This follows its appointment of Germany-based worldwide air travel, tourist, food, hospitality and beverage brands communications business AVIAREPS as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in these markets. “North America is a substantial source market, not just for Airlink, however for services, business owners, and leisure travellers,” discussed Airlink Executive Manager: Sales & & Marketing Carla da Silva. “Economic activity between South Africa and North America is increasing, consisting of trade, commerce and tourism. Similarly, with Asia resuming we expect a surge in need as re-emerges as another important market for Airlink and the services and communities we serve.”
Intercape approaches High Court yet again for protection in the Eastern Cape
Following numerous appeals to national government to act against a scourge of violence and intimidation against Intercape in recent years, the long-distance coach company has now called on newly appointed Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga to urgently intervene. This follows a renewed attack on the bus operator by taxi operators.
Public Enterprises Ministry to ‘cease to exist’ on formation of SOE holding company
President Cyril Ramaphosa has validated that the position of Public Enterprises Minister and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) will “disappear” once a brand-new holding business for tactical State-owned enterprises (SOEs) has been produced. Appearing in Parliament to respond to questions postured by members of the National Assembly on Thursday, Ramaphosa said that federal government planned adopting the suggestion of the Presidential SOE Council that a State-owned holding business be developed to house strategic SOEs and to work out coordinated investor oversight.
Manufacturer focused on anti-theft, -vandalism signalling equipment
The avoidance of vandalism and theft of rail infrastructure continues to be a significant cash pit for the South African passenger and freight rail industry. State-owned entity Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) spends R1-billion a year to secure its facilities from vandalism, then group CEO David Mphelo told Parliament in June last year..
Third-party access crucial for sector
Rail industry representative African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) is driven by a mandate to facilitate public–private partnerships (PPPs) as a tool to revitalise the South African rail industry, with CEO Mesela Kope-Nhlapo declaring 2023 the year of third-party access. “It is in the country’s best interest to successfully advocate for the practical implementation of the third-party access rail policy to service the unserved market that previously benefited from our railways,” Kope-Nhlapo tells Engineering News.
Bolt to invest €500m in Africa in next two years
Mobility app Bolt says it will invest EUR500-million in its African operations over the next 2 years. The funds will be used to expand the business’s services in Africa and to create opportunities for more than 300 000 brand-new drivers and carriers to sign up with the platform in 2023..
Global air passenger traffic continued very healthy recovery in January
Worldwide, air passenger traffic continued its strong recovery, from the results of the Covid-19 pandemic, in January, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has actually reported. IATA is the representative body for the international airline company industry. In year-on-year (year-on-year) terms, overall air passenger traffic in January was up by 67%. It reached 84.2% of its levels in January 2019 (that is, pre-pandemic). International guest traffic in January jumped 104%, year-on-year, and reached 77% of its January 2019 levels. Domestic traffic increased 32.7% year-on-year in January, nearly totally recuperating to pre-Covid levels, as it concerned 97.4% of January 2019 traffic.
Sanral to undertake blasting on the N3 on March 14
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it will carry out blasting to remove rock outcrops near the Camperdown Overpass bridge at 14:00 on Tuesday March 14 for the construction of the stormwater system, as well as pavement layers. This forms part of the ongoing N3 upgrades from the Cato Ridge Interchange to the northern end of the Dardanelles Cutting.
Zero-emissions aviation company reports record-breaking fuel cell performance tests
UK-US zero-emission air travel innovation company ZeroAvia has announced that early tests of its High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell systems delivered performances that were record-breaking. The tests were conducted at the business’s UK research and development (R&& D) site and involved its 20 kW HTPEM stack power module. This attained a record specific power of 2.5 kW/kg at the cell level. This opened the way to the company reaching 3+ kW/kg system level densities within the …
IATA reports challenging conditions for global air cargo in January
The worldwide representative body for the airline company market, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has actually reported that the worldwide air freight sector had a “soft” beginning to this year. In year-on-year (year-on-year) terms, overall air freight need in January was down 14.9%, while international need fell 16.2%. Overall air freight capacity, however, rose by 3.9%, the first year-on-year capacity increase because October last year. International capability increased by 1.4%. “With January freight …