Transport News
Aria proposes interventions to arrest Transnet’s rail network decline
Rail industry body the African Rail Industry Association (Aria) suggests several interventions to help State-owned Transnet address its prevailing inefficiencies, including re-introducing systems it used in the past and the prioritisation of maintenance of currently disabled locomotives, besides others. Despite declaring a profit of R5-billion for the 2022 financial year, Transnet cannot “hide” the fact the South African rail industry is in trouble, with massive maintenance backlogs threatening the sustainability of Transnet, Aria states.
Banyan Technology Releases Expanded OTR Solution to Include All Modes
Providing Real-Time API Connectivity for All OTR Shipping on One Screen
TNPA appoints Sphiwe Mthembu as East London port manager
State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has appointed Sphiwe Mthembu as East London port manager, with effect from August 1. He will be responsible for leading the port, which is South Africa’s premier hub port enabling and facilitating trade between South Africa and the world, in alignment with the National Ports Act and Transnet Strategy.
Integrated, tech-driven rail industry needed to drive South Africa’s heavy haul sector Transnet CE Portia Derby outlines Transnet’s targets for commodities
To enable South Africa’s mining and resources sector to remain competitive, it is imperative the country pursues a safe, competitive, responsible, integrated and intelligent heavy haul system, powered by rail 4.0, by 2030. This was emphasised by industry organisation the South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) chairperson Brian Monakali, speaking during the first day of the SAHHA 2022 conference on August 2.
US company developing innovative Wing-In-Ground-Effect craft using Siemens software
US company REGENT, which is developing a zero-carbon wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle, has adopted the Xcelerator cloud-based software and services portfolio from Siemens Digital Industries Software. This software portfolio is used for the design, engineering and development of the WIG vehicle, intended to transport people between coastal cities. “Ground effect is the name given to the positive influence on the lifting characteristics of the horizontal surfaces of an aircraft wing when it is close to the ground. The effect is a consequence of the distortion of the airflow below such surfaces attributable to the proximity of the ground. It applies to both fixed and rotary wing aircraft,” is the definition provided by the aviation safety website SKYbrary.
CBRE Arranges 75,349 SF Industrial Lease for Boxzooka Fulfillment at 3600 E Dale Avenue in Henderson
Boxzooka to Open West Coast Center at Newly Developed Distribution Facility
The summer of our discontent
Let’s not let history repeat itself a third time.
Intercape pleads for intervention as terror campaign intensifies
The Intercape long-distance coach company last week appeared before the Western Cape Standing Committee on Transport and Public Works, as well as members of the senior provincial police management, to plead for urgent interventions to stop the continuing attacks on its vehicles. In the latest incident, two Intercape coaches came under fire near Nyanga on August 3. An Intercape driver was shot and seriously wounded in one of the incidents.
OneLogix warns of up to 80% y/y decrease in earnings a share
JSE-listed logistics company OneLogix has advised its shareholders to expect a drop of between 60% and 80% year-on-year in earnings a share to between 2.5c and 5c for the financial year ended May 31. Similarly, headline earnings per share (HEPS) are also expected to decrease by between 55% and 75% year-on-year to between 2.8c and 5c.
PTV Group, SU strengthen partnership for intelligent transport, traffic systems
German traffic and transportation, mobility and logistics software and consulting services company PTV Group will support research and development at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Smart Mobility Laboratory with its software solutions for transportation modelling and simulation. The partners will also collaborate closely on mobility and intelligent transport system projects, and have signed a memorandum of understanding to underpin their joint commitment to innovation in smart and sustainable mobility.
Sanral-led programme aims to put an end to potholes in six months
Following the August 7 launch of the South African National Roads Agency Limited- (Sanral-) led Vala Zonke programme, which aims to tackle the thousands of potholes on roads across the country, Sanral engineering executive Louw Kannemeyer has told Engineering News the hope is to deal with most of the existing potholes within six months. “The immediate focus is the repair of open potholes, because that is what is damaging tyres, rims and causing accidents. We are hoping to move into the preventive maintenance phase in six months from now,” he added on August 8.
Science, Innovation dept envisions a solid hydrogen economy by 2050
South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) views hydrogen as a key enabler of decarbonisation, particularly in the transport sector – heavy-duty trucking, shipping, aviation, and rail – and in major polluting industries such as steel, cement and chemicals manufacturing, as well as mining. The DSI is working on multiple catalytic projects in the green hydrogen space, with the aim of starting small-scale electrolysis manufacturing and at least 1 MW of green hydrogen production piloted before 2024.
Southern Africa lags in adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, despite great potential
At the recent Farnborough International Airshow, in England, US-based global major aerospace group Boeing unveiled a new tool to model data, which it designated Cascade, which was created to map the ways that the global commercial aviation sector could reach the international target of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. “There are multiple ways to a future where aviation has zero climate impact,” noted Boeing chief sustainability officer Chris Raymond at the launch of the tool. “We created Cascade on a foundation of credible data and analytical models to allow users to explore various pathways to net-zero.” Different options to provide energy for aircraft propulsion, while significantly reducing or even eliminating carbon emissions, exist. The main ones are hydrogen, electricity (either pure or hybrid technologies) and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
IATA reports strong recovery in air passenger traffic in June
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global representative body of the airline industry, has reported that air passenger traffic in June this year continued to recover strongly from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In year-on-year (y-o-y) terms total air passenger traffic in June was up 76.2%. Global air passenger traffic that month reached 70.8% of the pre-pandemic levels. “Demand for air travel remains strong,” highlighted IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “After two years of lockdowns and border restrictions people are taking advantage of the freedom to travel wherever they can.”
Heavy haul value system collaboration advancing, but more action required
The level of collaboration among key stakeholders in the heavy haul value chain is only about half of what it should be and more must be done to ensure that this is encouraged. This was indicated by speakers during a heavy haul collaboration panel discussion on the third day of the South African Heavy Haul Association’s 2022 conference in Johannesburg.
South Africa, Botswana agree to boost rail link
South Africa and Botswana have agreed, in principle, on joint development initiatives to be implemented by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Botswana Rail (BR), to improve trade between the two countries, following a high-level business roundtable. The initiatives will enable landlocked Botswana to access South African ports in a more efficient manner.
Freight costs to blame for spike in global inflation, not oil – Botha
Ever since global inflation started heading north at an alarming rate, much of the conventional wisdom on the causes of this trend has pointed to energy prices, especially gas, oil and petroleum, says Dr Roelof Botha, economic adviser to the Optimum Investment Group. Also, when analysing the composition of the basket of goods and services that form the basis for the calculation of the consumer price indices (CPIs) in South Africa and most of its key trading partners, these prices certainly stand out, as do some food prices, he adds.
Bidding to be launched this month for private participation at Durban and Ngqura container …
Request for proposal (RFP) documentation for private sector participation in the container terminals at the ports of Durban and Ngqura will be issued this month with the goal of having partnerships in place by January 2023, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana reports. Delivering Operation Vulindlela’s latest progress update, Godongwana described the RFPs as a major step forward in enabling experienced international terminal operators to invest in the expansion of infrastructure and improve the management of port operations.
Parade Integrates with Fork Freight’s Freight Marketplace
More Carriers, More Capacity
Bettaway Beverage Distributors Earns Carrier of the Year Recognition from Schneider Transportation
Company wins top honors as mid-sized truckload carrier in annual performance evaluation program