Transport News
TFR opens up coal line again
State-owned rail operator Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has lifted the force majeure it imposed on the export coal line on November 8. The closure of the line followed the derailment of a fully-laden coal train, which occurred between the Bloubank and Nhlazatshe stations, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and rolling stock on both lines.
Why is e-tolls debt so high, asks Outa
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says it would like to understand how the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) financial obligation escalated to the quantity now proposed to be settled by national and provincial government. Outa’s submission to Parliament on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement 2022 requests explanation of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) financial obligation and the GFIP (or e-tolls) portion of this debt.
Transnet completes rail slot sale bid evaluation but does not identify bidders
State-owned freight logistics group Transnet says that is has concluded the assessment of applications gotten for sale of rail slots on the Container and Cape passages, following the initiation of a process on April 1 whereby bids were welcomed from the economic sector for a preliminary 16 slots. In spite of criticism of the design of the slot sales, specifically the fact that they would stand for only two years, Transnet confirmed that it did get quotes by the August 31. However, it did not divulge the number of submissions, nor the identities of the bidders.
Ransomware activity rapidly increasing in transport, shipping sectors – Trellix
Cybersecurity company Trellix says the cybercrime trends observed in South Africa are “pretty much” in line with what is happening on the global stage. “In the last 12 months, we have seen an uptick in activity from cybercrime actors targeting South Africans, and while the actors may be different, the attacks are the same in terms of global presence,” says Trellix South Africa country lead Carlo Bolzonello.
Cape Town terminal exceeding weekly volumes as deciduous fruit season starts
State-owned Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) states the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has been surpassing weekly volumes by 32% for 2 consecutive weeks as the South Africa’s deciduous fruit season begins. The very first few vessels have actually been bring exports destined for Europe and the UK. The season’s fruit include table grapes, pomegranates, stone fruits and berries, besides others.
Cape Town pilots underground safety chambers to protect traffic signal equipment
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate is piloting underground chambers for the safe storage of traffic signal controllers and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems at intersections prone to vandalism and theft. Two chambers – or prefabricated underground utility manholes – have been installed at an intersection in Belhar.
Another coal truck driver arrested at Camden power station
State-owned Eskom has reported that another coal delivery van driver has been jailed at the Camden power station, in Mpumalanga, after he was found in ownership of subgrade coal predestined for usage by the power utility. The truck comes from a transporter that is contracted to deliver coal to Eskom. Two other truck drivers were detained 2 weeks earlier at the very same power station for remaining in belongings of stolen coal..
Both railway lines on North Corridor now operational
State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has announced that both lines on its North Corridor have actually been repaired ahead of schedule. This is owing to the conclusion of most of the repair on the route between Bloubank and Nhlazatshe stations, in the Northern Cape, where a train derailment on November 8 caused substantial damage to the rail infrastructure and rolling stock.
Sanral provides evidence of compliance in tender awards
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has issued a statement to address the “narrative of irregularities and noncompliance regarding the award of tenders to joint ventures (JVs) with Chinese companies”, with the entity providing evidence of compliance on the part of the winning bidders. Sanral earlier this months awarded four out of five major tenders that were cancelled in June owing to “a material irregularity in the tender process”.
Boeing forecasts major growth in air cargo demand over next 20 years
Major aerospace group Boeing has actually anticipated that international air freight traffic will increase by 100% in between now and 2041. The business has actually launched its ‘World Air Cargo Forecast 2022’, and likewise forecasts that, over the very same period, the variety of truck aircraft in the world will increase by 60%. To satisfy growing demand, the international fleet of jet freighter airplane will need to grow by more than 1 300 airplane, to reach a total of more than 3 600 by 2041. To accomplish this, plus to change existing, older and less fuel efficient, freighters, will need the production of 2 800 freighter aircraft over the next two decades. Of these, 33% will be new-built truck airplane and 66% will be transformed from existing airliners.
TFR investigating cause of train crash in Mozambique
A freight train, owned by State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and operated by CFM crew, on November 15 collided with a CFM train that was shunting on the mainline between Ressano Garcia, Mozambique, and Komatipoort, South Africa. The TFR train was operating beyond South African borders as per the operating agreement, and had departed from Komatipoort, destined for Ressano Garcia. It had been transporting magnetite.
Transnet battles coal truck logjam at Richards Bay
State logistics firm Transnet is working to clear a jam of trucks carrying coal and other commodities at its Richards Bay port after recently’s derailment on a rail artery drove more product onto the road. A train bring coal for export hindered on Nov. 8 on Transnet’s North Corridor, causing the partial closure of the railway that is also utilized to transfer chrome and other products.
Eurowings Discover launches direct flights from Frankfurt to KMI Airport in Mpumalanga
German airline Lufthansa Group’s leisure provider Eurowings Discover has launched direct flights from Frankfurt, Germany, to the Kruger Mpumalanga International (KMI) airport, in Mpumalanga, South Africa. KMI is located in Mbombela, near the world-renowned Kruger National Park that is popular with domestic and global travelers.
Transnet welcomes sentencing of criminals who stole copper cables
State-owned entity Transnet has welcomed the sentencing by the Belfast Magistrates Court earlier this week of three criminals who stole contact wire (copper cables) belonging to Transnet in October 2021. This confirms that Transnet’s interventions, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and security service providers, are yielding results, the entity said on November 17.
Cabinet approves measures to restrict scrap exports, but details yet to be released
Cabinet has authorized a “extensive package” of policy measures to restrict trade in scrap metal to limit damage to public infrastructure, consisting of the continuous theft of copper cables, which is said to be costing the economy R46-billion yearly. Information of the measures have not yet been released, however it has been confirmed that they will include constraints on the trade of waste scrap and semi-processed metals.
Western Cape, Cape Town authorities highlight growing tourism, trade links with the US
The United States was now the Western Cape province’s biggest single source of travelers and the province’s biggest single export market, highlighted provincial Premier Alan Winde on Thursday night. He was addressing a function to mark the inauguration of the first direct flight connection between Cape Town and Washington DC, by United States carrier United Airlines. This advancement had actually happened during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. He likewise thanked the United States and US-based companies for their assistance to Cape Town and the Western Cape during the pandemic.
CoJ welcomes investigation into JRA CEO’s qualifications
City of Johannesburg (CoJ) executive mayor Mpho Phalatse and Transport MMC Funzi Ngobeni say it is appropriate that the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) CEO Tshepo Mahanuke has been placed on special leave pending an independent investigation. Mahanuke is alleged to have overstated his qualifications that landed him the position. JRA chairperson Thabo Motloung placed Mahanuke on special leave while an independent investigation is conducted to establish his actual credentials.
Urban rail boost could support Africa’s sustainable future – Alstom
If the modal share of urban rail in African cities increases to 10% in 2030 and 20% in 2050, compared to the standard situation of 1% today, one gigaton of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions might be avoided in between 2023 and 2050, states rail mobility options group Alstom in a new report entitled ‘The Role of Urban Rail in Sustainable Africa’. This amounts to 32% of Africa’s overall greenhouse-gas emissions in 2019.
SAICE decries Sanral tender awards as Chinese score most of the work
The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) states it is “deeply concerned” by the current awarding of tenders by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to joint ventures (JVs) led by foreign companies. Sanral previously this year cancelled 5 of its major tenders owing to “a material abnormality in the tender procedure”, where a resolution made by its board in January 2020 was not implemented in the assessment of the impacted tenders.
Sanral planning to spend R60bn in Eastern Cape over the next five years
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is preparing to invest simply over R60-billion on roadway facilities in the Eastern Cape province over the next five years, southern local task supervisor Marlize Nel-Verwey said while speaking at the inaugural Eastern Cape Investment Conference, in East London, on November 16. This follows on the entity’s investment of more than R8-billion in roads construction projects in the province over the past 3 years.