Transport News
Association to host conference
The South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) is hosting its conference from August 2 to 4 at Emperor’s Palace, in Kempton Park, Gauteng. This year’s conference theme: ‘Safe, resilient and efficient heavy haul’, was prompted by the challenges the rail network system is facing. These challenges are impacting on the predictability and safety of rail services.
S Africa hampered by rolling stock challenges
South Africa is facing challenges regarding its rolling stock, owing to rail networks being vandalised during Covid-19 lockdowns, and this will be costly to repair, says consultant and supplier of new and used locomotives African Railway Systems COO Dylan Knott. The shortage of locomotives and rolling stock also prevents the full use of South Africa’s rail system, and while State-owned utility Transnet Freight Rail has started making its rail network accessible for private operators, the challenges remain, he notes.
Industry body partners with department
The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) is working together with the Department of Transport (DoT) and other bodies to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will formally recognise ARIA as its official partner in advocacy on behalf of the rail industry. The association currently has an MoU with the Railway Safety Regulator, which is provided for by the National Railway Safety Regulator Act.
Avnet to Distribute LeddarTech LiDAR Sensors and Modules in the Americas
Leading global technology solutions provider Avnet (Nasdaq: AVT) will now be distributing products from LeddarTech, a leader in environmental sensing solutions for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems.
IndiCap Announces Next Major Metro Phoenix Development: Virgin Industrial Park
Metro Phoenix West Valley project will total more than 1.5 million square feet of Class A space in two phases, bringing IndiCap’s local industrial development pipeline to more than 14.4 million square feet and over 880 acres.
Nolan Transportation Group and Flexport Launch Strategic Partnership
The partnership will offer greater visibility and control for global consignees along with a seamless, tech-enabled customer experience
Gibela unveils its one-hundredth train set Gibela chairperson Irene Charnley, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane and Gauteng Premier David Makhura address media and dignitaries during the celebration of the one-hundredth X’trapolis Mega train
Earlier this month, train manufacturer Gibela celebrated the high-profile handover ceremony of its one-hundredth train set to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) in Dunnottar, Ekurhuleni. The event was attended by Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula, Gauteng Premier David Makhura, PRASA board chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane and other dignitaries in the transport and rail industries.
Rail revitalisation needed
Revitalising South Africa’s rail infrastructure is necessary to ensure that it is a reliable, available, competitive and efficient mode of transport, allowing users to capitalise on the sector’s being safer, more reliable and low carbon emitting, says rolling stock manufacturing company Alstom business development director Makgola Makololo. She says South Africa has a well-developed rail network in the region and progress is being made to improve the local rail industry, adding that continued investment and execution of key rail infrastructure projects is vital.
Cape Town pursues reinstatement of joint rail enforcement unit
The City of Cape Town says it is keen to help revive the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) rail enforcement unit (REU), which operated as a three-way government partnership between October 2018 and July 2020. The REU was launched by then Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande at a cost of R48-million.
Retailer’s last-mile deliveries to be made by solar-charged electric panel vans
Retailer Woolworths in June announced that it will start rolling out electric panel vans (EPVs) in partnership with logistics group DSV and mobility specialist Everlectric to deliver its customers’ online purchases in Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban. This follows a ten-month trail period during which Woolworths put two Maxus EPVs from Chinese manufacturer SAIC through their paces for its last-mile deliveries.
Sanral upgrading the N2 from KwaMashu to Umdloti
Traffic on the N2 between the KwaMashu interchange and Umdloti bridge will be disrupted over the next two months to bring in and place concrete barriers alongside the median to protect workers building a median barrier wall and additional lanes, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says. “The work being done here is part of the major upgrades on the N2 and N3. On the northbound carriageway, the road widths have already been narrowed, up as far as the on- and off-ramps of the Mount Edgecombe interchange,” says Sanral Eastern Region project manager Trevor Zumani.
Volkswagen tops used-car sales survey
According to a report carried out over six months by used car sales and buying service WeBuyCars, German motor vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen ranked as South Africa’s most sought-after used car brand among buyers between October 2021 and April 2022. The report released in May, was conducted on the company’s social media platforms, and revealed the Volkswagen Polo topped the list for the most frequently asked for car, while the company’s sales statistics showed it was also the most sold car for the same period.
Auto centre lauds R9.1bn injection into Eastern Cape ports
The Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC EC) says it applauds Transnet National Port Authority’s (TNPA’s) announcement that it will inject R9.1-billion into its three Eastern Cape ports over the next seven years. AIDC EC CEO Thabo Shenxane says the centre, as well as other provincial stakeholders, have all been lobbying for the investment as part of an effort to grow the region’s automotive sector.
AFS Logistics introduces new integrated technology platform to improve service
The AFSmart technology suite offers shippers and carriers fast, easy access to critical data for more informed management decisions
Rajant Achieves Certification for Komatsu’s FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage Solution (AHS)
Validation for Autonomous Hauling Completed with Rajant in Just Six Months
A peek at peak: interview with Zac Rogers
Where do supply chains stand as we enter peak holiday season? Dr. Zac Rogers of Colorado State has some thoughts on that.
Sanral to restart, wrap up adjudication process on cancelled tenders by end September Sanral chairperson Themba Mhambi talks about the issues identified with the agency’s construction bid evaluation process. Video and editing: Kutlwano Matlala
The board of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has instructed Sanral management to readvertise and award the R17.47-billion in tenders the board cancelled earlier in May, citing “material irregularities”, within the next four months. Speaking at a media conference in Centurion on Monday, Sanral board chairperson Themba Mhambi added that the board would recruit an independent public institution with infrastructure expertise to assist with the process to advertise and adjudicate the tenders, and to make a recommendation to the board on the winning bidders.
Transnet to issue big locomotive tender in August as it clears legal hurdles
State-owned freight logistics group Transnet intends launching its much-anticipated tender for new locomotives in August having recorded a 5.6% drop in rail volumes last year as a result of a combination of locomotive shortages and serious operational and security problems. The group lost a total of 1 500 km of overhead copper wire to theft in 2021/22 and was also unable to maintain a number of locomotives, largely as a result of an ongoing dispute with the Chinese Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), which is refusing to supply the utility with specialised spares.
Airbus reports ‘solid’ results for the first half of this year
Europe-based global major aerospace and defence group Airbus announced its results for the first half of this year (1H22) on Wednesday. It did not release any quarterly results at the same time. It recorded revenues of €24.81-billion, a 1% increase over the €24.637-billion achieved during the same period last year (1H21). ‘Earnings before interest and taxes adjusted’ in 1H22 came to €2.645-billion, a 2% decrease from the €2.703-billion recorded in 1H21. Net income in 1H22 was €1.901-billion, a drop of 15% from the €2.231-billion of 1H21. Free cash flow during this year’s first half was €1.665-billion, 18% down on the €2.012-billion achieved during 1H21.
John Deere brings redesigned ADT to South African shores
Heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere’s South African branch, having been in the country for 140 years, launched its redesigned 41.8 t, 460 series articulated dump truck (ADT) to the domestic market on July 26. Aimed primarily at the mining industry, the 460E-II series has been redesigned to incorporate a wider dump body, improved electrical and hydraulic systems, and new drive modes to help operators get the job done in various conditions.