Railways Africa Issue 5 2012 by Railways Africa

ISSUE 5 // 2012

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RAILWAYS | HARBOURS | MINING | INTERMODAL | COMMUTER

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1 – 3 OCTOBER 2013 | TSHWANE EVENTS CENTRE | HALL J

Floorplan NOW OPEN! Call for Speakers Don’t miss the biggest Rail and Harbours Event on the African Continent from 1 to 3 October 2013 at the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria, South Africa – the ideal opportunity to network and connect with industry peers, see the latest technology first-hand, engage with suppliers and glean the latest trends from financing to infrastructure development. To book your space or for more information contact Barbara Sheat Tel: +27 72 340 5621 Email: barbara@railwaysandharbours.com

W W W. R A I LWAY S A N D H A R B O U R S . C O M

RAILWAYS AFRICA / FOREWORD

Foreword We did publish monthly for a short period in the recent past, but this proved impractical for several reasons. We’ve gone back to six issues annually, an arrangement that worked well over many decades.

ISSUE 5 // 2012

It’s great being a printed magazine once more - back literally by popular demand. There’s been no change in our comprehensive website however: complete issues remain accessible on www.railwaysafrica.com.

We don’t pretend that news-every-other-month is going to be right up to date; it can’t be, obviously. We make up for this on our website, where the latest railway news on the continent is instantly readable on the homepage – no need for ﬁddling around with links or clicking on subject headings (though there is plenty more if you do want to look). A selection of excerpted items goes out automatically every Wednesday in our widely-read “News Xpress”, direct-intoyour-inbox service, which can be ordered free of charge at www.railwaysafrica.com. WWW.RAILWAYSAFRICA.COM

The News Xpress comprises news items selected from those appearing on the current webpage - which can be called up itself, of course, for a more complete read. If, for any reason, the News Xpress doesn’t make it onto your own screen (even e-mail gets derailed occasionally), remember the news will always be there on www.railwaysafrica.com. The weekly webpage news reports are all fully archived under individual country headings. You can ﬁnd everything we’ve published on railways in Tanzania (for instance) in recent years. Our weekly roundup of railway mishaps across the world is surprisingly well received. We like to think that, by bringing you accounts of mistakes made elsewhere, it may just help to prevent similar errors being made closer to home.

PUBLISHER Barbara Sheat EDITOR Rollo Dickson DESIGN & LAYOUT Grazia Muto WEBSITE Shaun Loureiro ADVERTISING Kim Bevan

BARBARA SHEAT Publisher / Railways Africa

If you would like to receive Railways Africa in print format, please complete and return a subscription form. There is one on the inside back cover of this issue. Alternatively it may be downloaded at www.railwaysafrica.com Please Fax/Email the completed form to us at: Fax: +27 86 665 5330 Email: kim@railwaysafrica.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Kim Bevan CONTRIBUTORS Andre Kritzinger Anton van Schalkwyk Bruno Martin Charles Baker Chris Visser Eugene Armer Geoff Cooke Jacque Wepener John Batwell Paul Kilfoil

ISSN 1029 - 2756

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Rail Link Communications cc PO Box 4794 Randburg 2125 Tel: +27 72 340 5621 E-mail: stationmaster@railwaysafrica.com Twitter: railwaysafrica Website: www.railwaysafrica.com

The copyright on all material in this magazine is expressly reserved and vested in Rail Link Communications cc, unless otherwise stated. No material may be reproduced in any form, in part or in whole, without the permission of the publishers. Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers of Rail Link Communications cc unless otherwise stated. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, neither the Editor, Publisher or Contributor can be held liable for any inaccuracies or damages that may arise.

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Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

Contents

Photo: Shaun Loureiro,Railways Africa.

Features

NEWCLARE Innovative Newclare Rail Underpass

PRASA PRASA to be Self-Sustaining By 2017: Montana

Africa Update

Concessions in Southern Africa

Service Resumes on CFM

Rolling Stock Shortage

Zambia to Revive Line to SA

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

www.railwaysafrica.com

SA Rail News China to Supply Locos to South Africa

Retired QR Locos Arrive in Durban

Transport By Road Costs SA Billions

Metrorail Better in 30 Ways

Bombela Wage Agreement

22 Mishaps & Blunders Collision With Truck at Auto-Barrier Crossing

More Bomb Threats in Cape Town

Metrorail Safety Campaign

Apple Express Loses Thousands Through Theft

Lightning Knocks Out Commuter Trains

Railway Heritage Sandstone Heritage Trust

Zimbabwe Steam Tour, 2013

Bamangwato Concessions, Selebi-Phikwe

Book Review Garratts & Kalaharis of The Welsh Highland Railway

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Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

NEWCLARE

INNOVATIVE NEWCLARE RAIL UNDERPASS Concor Civils, a Murray & Roberts Construction company, has harnessed several conventional construction technologies in a unique combination to execute a highly successful “design and construct” rail underpass project in Newclare, Johannesburg, as part of the Johannesburg Development Agency’s Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Aerial view of project. Hoy Street is the near side and Price Street the far side.

Throughout this 18-month project, the Newclare to Westbury rail traffic remained operational at all times and it is one of very few structures of this size to be jacked into an operational railway line embankment without interruption to the railway traffic. The BRT route identified through Coronationville and Newclare absorbs some of the roadway capacity in this busy area and necessitated additional rail crossing points. The new road-underrail crossing links Price and Hoy Streets which run parallel to the railway at Newclare station, effectively easing future traffic flows in this area. The project involved the construction of two reinforced concrete structures, one on either side of the railway embankment. The two structures were jacked through the embankment until they overlapped on the centre line of the railway to form the underpass structure. The 52.5 metre long underpass is 12 metres wide, allowing for two road lanes of 3.7 metres each and two sidewalks of 2.3 metres each. The structures, constructed in two halves, measured 28 metres long and 24.5 metres long. The project team comprised consulting and review engineers VelaVKE with structural design provided by Concor Civils and lateral support design by Jones & Wagener. Esorfranki Geotechnical

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

constructed the lateral support and conducted the jacking, with Concor Civils undertaking the concrete construction. AfriSam supplied all the concrete for the project and provided technical advice for the more difficult concreting operations — input that made a valuable contribution to the project achieving compliance. The project presented several taxing technical challenges that required close co-operation between all parties. For example, the construction team had expected the embankment to contain mine sand from historic mining operations in the area. In reality, the embankment material was found to be well compacted fill with high clay content and a greater volume than expected of very hard quartzite bedrock which required drilling and blasting. During the 18 month contract period, 30 local labourers were employed and trained in basic construction activities. Small to medium enterprises were employed for managing the traffic on the roads adjacent to the site, as well as the paving of the sidewalks and implementing traffic calming measures such as speed humps, to boost road safety in the adjacent communities. Special training was conducted to uphold safety among those workers required to work in close proximity to the existing railway. Railway flagmen and scaffolding erectors were also trained.

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NEWCLARE

The Hoy Street side during jacking.

A closer look at the structure during the jacking operation.

Safety and Environment

The health and safety standards applicable to all Murray & Roberts Construction Group projects applied throughout. Those working close to the live railway line were given special training to ensure knowledge of the speciďŹ c and invisible hazards and all sub-contractors were inducted into Murray & Roberts Construction safety standards. This required the workers not only to conform to the high level safety requirements, but also to produce risk assessments and method statements for all activities.

Since this project was constructed in a densely populated urban environment, due care and attention had to be paid to construction noise levels. Compressors were specially silenced, while noise and vibration from blasting was managed by using small-charge-delayed blasting. The material excavated from the underpass was placed to reinforce the toe of the adjacent railway embankment, eliminating the need to haul this material across congested roads in the vicinity of the project. This was seen as a safety consideration, since members of the local community use the streets for recreational activities.

The numerous risks associated with this project were successfully mitigated by careful planning and implementation.

The completed underpass.

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Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

PRASA

PRASA TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING BY 2017: MONTANA Chris Visser Reports

Lucky Montana

The forum comprises the agency’s most Senior Managers and Montana used the opportunity to enlighten them on PRASA’s current status and plans for the future. His intention was to encourage and motivate them to “play as one team”, in achieving the goals set. The theme for the 2012 forum was “Leading with purpose”. Montana said his team should aspire to be more than just managers. They should aim to be leaders; leaders who pay attention to detail, are able to operate in ever-changing environments, make difﬁcult (including unpopular) decisions and be responsive to customers’ expectations and needs. The current leadership, he said, should be remembered as the generation that took passenger rail services in South Africa to new heights; a modern system that by 2014 would deliver high quality service on a sustainable basis.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Lucky Montana gave the opening address at the agency’s “Top 300 Leadership Forum” on 4 September 2012. He provided an overview of progress made, challenges facing the organisation and strategic direction for PRASA to become a modern, self-sustaining business by 2017. To achieve this goal, PRASA would have to deliver: 1. Short term, visible improvement in the quality of train services 2. Modern trains, signalling, stations and operating systems 3. Financial sustainability through increased revenue from assets and the property portfolio Recapitalisation of commuter rail in SA will require an investment over the next 20 years of approximately R136 billion (in today’s money) in rolling stock, signalling, stations and other rail infrastructure, if it is to meet the nation’s requirements over the next 40 to 50 years. Funding of R25.9 billion is already committed for spending over the next two years. Although more than 40% of this is required to maintain existing rolling stock, over R13.5 billion is being spent on infrastructure modernisation, and preparing the system for compatibility with new generation rolling stock.

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PRASA Achievements Montana listed noteworthy achievements by PRASA over the past few years, the most signiﬁcant being: • • • • • • • • • • • •

The sixth unqualiﬁed audit report for the group Asset value increased by 20% Detailed feasibility study completed for the commuter ﬂeet Countrywide signalling upgrade programme begun Delivery of 510 new coaches (against a target of 450) under the accelerated rolling stock programme Passenger journeys by rail increased to 523 million Passenger journeys by Autopax buses increased by 25% to 4.5 million Speed-gate project for station access control begun Eerste Fabrieke to Greenview track doubling project well advanced Third phase of the Bridge City development implemented National station precinct development programme for 25 stations implemented Fatality Rate for 2011 reduced by 16.1%

PRASA is also home to Shosholoza Meyl, the intercity passenger service, with its own dedicated ﬂeet of locomotives painted in purple livery.

A number of major challenges remain before the goal of a modern, well-run, self-sustainable business can be attained by 2017. The most signiﬁcant issues faced are: • An aged rail infrastructure and obsolete technology • Very high maintenance and operating costs • A liquidity (cash position) challenge • Rail passenger journeys that are still below target • A property portfolio that is not delivering value • Major problems with fraud & corruption • Lack of funding for main-line passenger services (Shosholoza Meyl) • Encroachment of informal settlements on the rail reserve The Government has committed to increase investment in the passenger rail business since 2009 and PRASA commenced with its upgrade programme in preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Currently everything possible is being done to keep the

Equipped with microprocessor control systems, the 10M3, 10M4 and 10M5 sets have new bodies mounted on refurbished chassis and bogies. Rebuilding extends the lifespan but cannot continue indeﬁnitely, and the basic technology is obsolete. Photo: Malcolm Bates.

existing system running. At the same time, intensive work on the modernisation programme includes the remodelling of urban rail corridors in three metropolitan areas - Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and the Western Cape, where there is the highest demand for commuter mobility. Key renewal programmes such as resignalling and the introduction of new rolling stock go hand-in-hand with the corridor modernisation programme and capacity enhancement projects such as Bridge

The most scenic section served by Metrorail commuter trains is that from Muizenburg to Simon’s Town (south of Cape Town) where the track runs on a shelf between mountain and sea. Paul Kilfoil took this recent photo near Glencairn.

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Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

PRASA One of Metrorail’s ﬂagship “Business Express” sets.

City and Greenview (see below). Work on infrastructure will create up to 7,000 direct construction and downstream industry jobs over the next three years.

Capacity Enhancement Projects 1. Bridge City north of Durban on a site of approximately 60 hectares comprises high density mixed-use development and equates to about 700,000m2 building area. It includes a regional hospital, residential zones, magistrate’s court, retail outlets and other commercial facilities. Construction of a new rail line at a cost of some R700 million is 65% complete.

Altogether 5,256 new passenger coaches are to be constructed up until 2020. A further 456 are planned for the period to 2030. An additional 1,512 vehicles are envisaged to meet demand on new route extensions.

2. The Greenview doubling and stations project (east of Tshwane) involves the construction of one new station, two station conversion/upgrades, a road-over-rail bridge and doubletracking 4.5km of line, for completion by July 2013.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) in April 2012 was for the procuring of 3,600 coaches over the next 10 years with a minimum of 65% local content and built in a South African factory to be operational by July 2016. A minimum of 30% BBBEE was speciﬁed. Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) will provide the successful tenderer with a site for the manufacturing facility and may function as a sub-contractor.

3. More than R1 billion is to be spent on over 50 stations, installing access/ticketing control gates, electronic display boards and customer assistance points, CCTV cameras and public address systems; also on security measures, fencing etc. 4. More than R400 million will be spent over the next three years on the rehabilitation of track, foundations, station platforms, electriﬁcation and footbridges. The elimination of some highrisk level crossings is included in the programme. 5. The rolling stock renewal programme, the catalyst for transformation of Metrorail – indeed public transport as a whole - is expected to create approximately 66,000 new direct and indirect jobs during implementation.

It has been designed to deliver a number of key government objectives such as the delivery of quality public transport, the revitalising of South Africa’s rail engineering industry through local manufacturing, employment creation and the advancement of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE).

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

6. Of the 162 signalling stations across the PRASA network, 139 (67%) have exceeded their design life. Non-availability of spares makes it increasingly more difﬁcult to perform proper maintenance. PRASA plans to replace all existing mechanical and electromechanical equipment with electronic interlocking and will spend R2.4 billion over the next three years on this key priority. 7. An amount of R3.4 billion is planned for the purchase and maintenance of 88 new locomotives for main-line passenger services.

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PRASA 8. In planning for future growth and expansion of the rail commuter network, a number of feasibility studies are being carried out, notably in respect of marginalised communities and areas that have developed away from existing lines. These include: • A 7.5 km branch to serve the Motherwell community north of Port Elizabeth, as well as the nearby Ngqura harbour and Coega Industrial development. • A phased 5 to 15km line extension beyond Nasrec to the Greater Soweto and Lenasia areas. • A phased 5 to 18km extension into Chris Hani, Etwatwa and the Greater Daveyton development areas. • The reintroduction of commuter service on the existing line to Hammanskraal. • A new 120km line linking regional residential and activity areas along the north-eastern Moloto Corridor to Pretoria. • A new 4.5km branch off the existing rail network to serve Cape Town International Airport and provide a link to the city centre. • A new line from King Shaka International Airport to connect with the existing rail network north of Durban.

High on the list: upgrading infrastructure and generating revenue through commercial development around stations.

Property Portfolio Montana referred brieﬂy to the challenges facing PRASA in managing its property portfolio. To unlock the value of this, a comprehensive strategy has been developed with four critical elements: 1. R1 billion is needed to buy back high-yielding development leases. 2. Disposal of residential properties, buildings and land not required for future rail or transport needs. 3. A national station precinct improvement plan embracing agreements with developers over the long-term and increasing the property portfolio. 4. Commercialisation of space at stations.

Metrorail is concentrating currently on keeping the existing trains running. Most of the ﬂeet comprises 5M2A sets; many coaches are three and four decades old. The technology dates back more than 50 years and spares are a problem. Photo: Andre Kritzinger.

PRASA’s Bus Subsidiary Autopax Almost 200 brand new buses, bought speciﬁcally for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, are standing idle, creating a very negative ﬁnancial impact on PRASA. Montana plans to restructure the Autopax debt over the next three months to remove the burden and improve on the cash position.

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Metrorail commuter services at Port Elizabeth, East London and Malmesbury (near Cape Town) depend on diesel traction. Photo: Eugene Armer.

Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

AFRICA UPDATE

AFRICA UPDATE CONCESSIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT SLAMS RAIL CONCESSIONS’ PERFORMANCE According to a technical report prepared in 2009 for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), railway concessions in the region have generally been characterised by “declining performance”. The consequences it says are a deteriorating state of infrastructure as well as “massive retrenchments” and reduced business cooperation amongst railways in certain areas. The report evaluated each of the railways that had been concessioned in the region to determine whether operational and ﬁnancial performance had improved since concessioning. Reasons for failure to achieve expectations were examined. Several factors were found to be common among those concessions whose performance was poorest. One of these was failure by the participating governments to enact enabling legislation and create a railway regulator prior to concessioning. This was found to be the case in Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. “To a lesser extent the same was true in Zimbabwe,” the report said, “but that concession is unique in its concession process. In the absence of enabling legislation and regulator, several concessions

depended upon contract language to govern concession obligations. In most cases the contract language did not anticipate every circumstance and eventuality that might arise.” Former Zambian Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande says he agrees with the SADC report and applauds the government’s recent decision to rescind the Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) concession. He was quoted by The Times of Zambia saying: “Being at the centre of Zambia’s development, I realised that a weak railway system would frustrate the country’s development. Through SADC ministers’ meetings and in my earlier life I had become aware that other regional countries had cancelled railway concessions for non-performance.” The state subsidies to railways had been eliminated, but “as a result of the reduced capacity of such railways, some traditional rail trafﬁc has since moved on to the road, causing immense damage to road pavements.”

ANGOLA’S LINK WITH ZAMBIA

ANGOLA INAUGURAL CFM TRAIN TO MENONGUE The ﬁrst train in commercial service on Caminhos de ferro de Moçamedes (CFM) in more than twenty years left the Angolan Atlantic port of Namibe at 06:00 on 21 September 2012, bound for Lubango (248km) and then the eastern terminus Menongue (756km) in the eastern Kuando-Kubango province. A large party of ofﬁcials was on board, including CEO Daniel Quipaxe who told the Angola news agency he foresees the railway carrying a million passengers during the coming 12 months. The line is expected to be especially useful in transporting agricultural produce.

Zenza

Luanda

Malanje

Dondo

ANGOLA

ATLANTIC Lobito Benguela

Reconstruction by Chinese contractors is proceeding apace on the CFB Benguela line. These photos from Anton van Schalkwyk were taken at Luau, 20km from the DRC border, during October 2012. DRC Luau

Dilolo

Camacupa Luena

Caaia

Kuito Huambo

Cubal Lubango

Dongo

Menongue

Namibe Chamutete

Chiange

Km 300

ZAMBIA Oshikango Ondangwa NAMIBIA Tsumeb

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

BOTSWANA

According to Angolan National Railway Institute Director Julio Bango Joaquim, construction of the rail link between Angola and

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AFRICA UPDATE Zambia - by way of Caminhos de ferro de Benguela (CFB) into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - is due to be completed “soon”. This is a priority, he says, to boost development between the two countries. Joaquim foresees combining Angola’s three separate railways together with the connection to the DRC as ultimately forming “a regional rail grid.” The Angolan transport ministry, he adds, aims for electric trains eventually, but this depends on improving the quality of electricity generation in the country.

SERVICE RESUMES ON CFM On 2 October, passenger train service to Lubango and Menongue resumed on Caminhos de ferro de Moçamedes (CFM) following the collision between two trains on 29 September. The line had been reopened only eight days previously, after a 20-year break due to complete destruction during the lengthy civil war. According to CFM chairman Daniel Quipaxe, there was no derailment and minimal damage in the accident.

ETHIOPIA ADDIS ABABA LIGHT RAIL The Ethiopian government is to contribute 15% of the $US400 million needed to fund the new 34.25km electric light rail system in Addis Ababa, with the rest coming from China. There are to be two lines: one 16.9km in length running north-south and the other 17.35km east-west. A 2.7km central portion will be common to both lines. The Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) and the Addis Ababa City Roads Authority (AACRA) are in disagreement over how the tracks are to ﬁt in with existing main roads, intersections and roundabouts. A number of high-level meetings have taken place in an attempt to ﬁnd compromise solutions.

ETHIOPIA

Kampala

Malaba Nakuru

Entebbe

200

400km

KENYA

SOMALIA

UGANDA 100

Kisumu

NAIROBI Mwanza

TANZANIA

Voi

Lamu Mombasa

CHINA TO BUILD 1.435MM GAUGE LINE According to Kenya Association of Manufacturers chairman Polycarp Igathe, “It is therefore music to the ears to learn that China Roads and Bridges has signed a commercial contract with the Kenya Railways Corporation for commencement of the standard gauge rail from Mombasa to Malaba and perhaps into Kampala.” The statement followed a tour of the harbour at Mombasa on 19 September during which Igathe was told that Rift Valley Railways only manages to move 4% of freight trafﬁc leaving the docks for inland. He was quoted criticising RVR’s performance at length,

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“Citadel Capital and Transcentury, the major shareholders in RVR must simply know that they have failed the land and country in outstanding fashion.” [Igathe’s very one-sided diatribe echoes successive assertions by Kenyan authorities that virtually every delay and shortcoming in the harbour is the fault of the trains. Against many odds, obstacles and other problems, RVR is battling to revive a once outstanding railway that, through government’s consistent mismanagement and failure to maintain, was effectively run into the ground. – Editor: Railways Africa.]

KENYA REVIVES AIRPORT LINE TENDER Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC) has revived an international tender for a design-and-build turnkey project in Nairobi. A new 7km line is to run from Embakasi to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the project includes the building of a terminal station. The scheme was suspended earlier when Kenya put a planned $US200 million infrastructure bond on hold. The plans were revived when the World Bank approved a $431m loan for Kenya’s National Urban Transport Improvement Project, which includes urban commuter rail systems. KRC is to receive $11.93m from the loan for the carrying out of feasibility studies and detailed designs for the construction of commuter rail systems in Nairobi and selected towns. This will be in addition to $23m allocated previously by the government speciﬁcally for the technical design and development of the railway.

KENYA

SUDAN

saying inter alia: “This [the standard gauge scheme] is a game changer project. How else under the sun shall Kenya harness and commercialise the plenty we have found within our borders (oil, gas and coal) in recent days without a functional railway managed by committed institutions?” Of the harbour tour he said: “We witnessed firsthand, that at long last, chronic port congestion and inefficiencies are being tackled - bravely by Kenya Ports (KPA) and timidly by Rift Valley Railways (RVR)… We can confirm that delays in cargo offtake and high cost of cargo transportation are the result of dismal failure in improving railway infrastructure in tandem with port infrastructure.

KRC Managing Director Nduva Muli says work to be put in hand includes detailed engineering, architectural and environment impact studies, as well as designs for the proposed line and terminal. The contractor, he explains, will be responsible for constructing the track bed, structures, bridges, stations, communication, signalling, train control, ticketing and security surveillance systems. Maintenance of the completed project for 12 months is also required. Bids for the two-year project were required by 30 October.

NIGERIA CHINESE LOAN FOR LIGHT RAIL IN ABUJA China is to assist Abuja, capital of Nigeria, with loans to ﬁnance a new light rail system. Repayment will not be required until the initial seven years have elapsed. Thereafter interest at a modest 2.5% per annum will apply over 20 years. [According to an Associated Press report, “other [Chinese-funded Nigerian] projects haven’t fared as well. In 2006, then-President Olusegun Obasanjo signed an $8 billion deal with the Chinese to repair his nation’s railroads, with no visible effect.” In fact, this particular project was halted by the Nigerian government due to funding problems, but has been revived recently. – Editor Railways Africa.]

Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

AFRICA UPDATE MOROCCO

Spain

CASABLANCA-KENITRA UPGRADE There has been marked growth in passenger numbers on the Tanger-Marrakech axis in recent years, Ofﬁce National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF – the national railway of Morocco) reports. A project to modernise the Casablanca-Kénitra main line – aimed at increasing capacity by about 50% - began on 25 September. Funded in part by a €300m loan from the African Development Bank (ADB), the upgrading includes adding a third track between Casablanca and Kénitra for freight trafﬁc, to release capacity on the existing double-track alignment. ADB expects the modernisation programme to create 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. ONCF foresees carrying 24 million passengers per annum on the Tanger-Marrakech corridor by 2016; work has already started on a 200km dedicated high-speed line between Tanger and Kénitra for completion by the end of 2015. The upgraded section to Casablanca via Rabat is to use TGV Duplex trainsets running at 220km/h under 3kV DC catenary.

Straight of Gibralta

Tlemcen

Fez

Rabat Casablanca

Meknés

Khourrbag Safi Marrakech

Béchar

Morocco Agadir

ROLLING STOCK SHORTAGE According to Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) chairman Rosário Mualeia, quoted by the paper Notiçias, shortage of rolling stock is hampering the company in meeting demands for goods transport. Extensive repairs have been made to the various lines in recent years but the railway continues to operate below capacity due to limitations imposed by non-availability of rolling stock. Even wagons left at outlying stations have been recovered and refurbished, but CFM has never been able to match growing demand for freight transport by countries in the region. At a recent three-way meeting in Maputo involving the rail operators of Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland in Maputo, Mualeia on behalf of CFM made a commitment to improve the levels of service, the aim being to attract more trafﬁc to and from neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

LOCOS FOR MOZAMBIQUE COAL Rio Tinto, which has its own coal mine in Mozambique’s Tete Province, is believed to be hiring four locomotives from RRL in South Africa and is understood to be in the market to purchase seven new units.

TANZANIA SIGNALLING STANDARDS FOR TANZANIA The two separately administered and operated railways in Tanzania – Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) and the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) - each use distinctly different signalling systems. That at TRL is based on British semaphore practice and single line control dating from many decades ago. Signals on TAZARA, built by Chinese engineers, show little similarity. Tanzania’s Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) is concerned about this, believing that in the interests of all concerned (and especially from the safety point of view), one standard practice should be applicable to all railways in the country. New regulations being drawn up -- The Railways (Block Working and Signal Interlocking) 2012 -- will be used to control all railway trafﬁc in Tanzania.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

Tétouan Oujda

Kenitra

MOZAMBIQUE

Oran

Ceuta

Tangier

Algeria

Sumatra’s Acting Director-General Ahmad Kilima told stakeholders at a one-day seminar held to discuss the draft “There is the possibility that a private operator will be preoccupied with profit motive to the detriment of safety. Though railways are generally a very safe mode of transport, the safety situation in our railway is already precarious”. Signalling, he explained, is a function that is crucial for safety, particularly preventing trains from collision. Director railways regulation at Sumatra Eliona Simbo said that once the 2012 regulation is passed, all signals controlling movements on main or running lines shall be mechanically or electronically interconnected to prevent conflicting movements. Railway consultant Alfred Nalitolela, who has 30 years’ experience in the field, said the new regulations would improve safety standard and pave the way for future signalling and communication in the sector. [Sumatra’s proposals are specifically for Tanzania. Since TAZARA operates in Zambia as well, will there not still be two different signalling systems in that country? – Editor: Railways Africa.]

TAZARA CHINESE EXPERT STUDY Minister of Transport Dr Harrison Mwakyembe told press representatives in Dar-es-Salaam that the Chinese government has donated 90 goods wagons and six new locomotives to the TanzaniaZambia Railway Authority (TAZARA). He explained that a team of 70 technical experts from China was in Tanzania studying TAZARA in detail, to establish the problems afﬂicting the ailing organisation, described as being “on the verge of collapse”. A team of similar size was in Zambia, looking at the problems on that side of the border.

CHINA & TAZARA SIGN $US42M DEAL The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and the Chinese government have concluded a $US42 million agreement covering the implementing of 12 projects related to the Dar-es-Salaam-Kapiri

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AFRICA UPDATE Mposhi line. The agreement ﬂows from the 15th Economic and Technical Co-operation Protocol signed by Zambia, Tanzania and China in March 2012. The projects listed include the rehabilitation of 42 passenger coaches, supply of six new locomotives (four main-line, two shunting), and various spares, as well as rescue and lifting equipment. Track inspection trolleys are to be provided, and some 30,000 wood sleepers. Staff are to be trained by Chinese instructors and Chinese experts will be seconded to work in Tanzania and Zambia. Funds under the protocol will provided as interest-free loans to the Tanzanian and Zambian governments.

MALAYSIA MAY ASSIST TAZARA According to Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) Managing Director Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, the railway is in discussions with SMH Rail of Malaysia which may assist with rehabilitating the many locomotives and lengthy list of rolling stock currently out of service. The envisaged agreement would provide for continuing maintenance over a speciﬁed period. Payment would be deferred until the repaired equipment enables TAZARA to earn the necessary revenue. SMH Managing Director Narayanan Kuppusamy assured TAZARA that his company possesses the funds needed to support the endeavour but TAZARA would be required to provide the necessary equipment and manpower in order to undertake the work.

TAZARA STUDY IMPRESSES

ZAMBIA ZAMBIA TO REVIVE LINE TO SA According to Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda at a media briefing, Zambia is to spend $US120 million in upgrading the mainline from Victoria Falls to the Copperbelt. The main objective is to get export traffic off the roads, specifically mining output routed to Durban in South Africa. Zambia is concerned at the amount being expended on road maintenance, which it blames on the poor condition of the railway. The money to be spent, Chikwanda told the media, is part of the $750 million debut Eurobond that Zambia raised on 13 September. Mining companies operating in Zambia include Canada’s First Quantum Minerals, Vedanta Resources Plc, Glencore International and Barrick Gold Corporation.

A Zambian Railways train on the Victoria Falls bridge. A recent photo by Geoff Cooke

Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) Managing Director Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika says he is impressed with the speed of the team of 140 Chinese experts which is in Africa to establish where the railway’s technical and managerial problems lie. Nobody could be blamed for shortcomings individually, he suggests: “We are all part of the problems as they are in the hands of all stakeholders of Tazara.” Mbikusita-Lewanika handed over the company’s written response to questionnaires prepared by TAZARA Rehabilitation Project Manager Jia Guangzhi. The study report is to be handed to the governments of Zambia and Tanzania by June 2013, after which revamping work will begin. The Chinese team is currently busy with preliminary work in Zambia.

KABWEANS TOAST RAIL CONCESSION END

According to the Tanzanian Minister of Transport Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, the government opted for independent researchers because most of the challenges involve management. He explained that the study will result in recommendations on how best to run the railway.

Central Province Minister Philip Kosamu said RSZ had failed to manage the infrastructure and condemned the “incorrect and unpatriotic” remarks by MMD president Nerves Mumba who said the takeover of RSZ would chase away investors in the country. Other ofﬁcials criticised RSZ for downsizing the workforce – from 3,000 to 1,000 according to one speaker.

UGANDA RVR PLANS COMMUTER SERVICE Rift Valley Railways (RVR) has applied for government authority to operate commuter passenger service in Uganda, CEO Brown Ondego told the Kampala Observer. Public liability insurance has been obtained, he said, adding: “We have all the facilities for commuter services.”

RVR WORKSHOP CONTRACT Rift Valley Railways (RVR) is to refurbish the main workshop in Uganda at Nalukulongo. Roko Construction Ltd was awarded a three-month contract worth $US410,000, with work commencing in September. 2012. The facility was built originally to provide the former East African Railways (Uganda section) with capacity for maintenance of rolling stock. Prominent among current projects is wagon rehabilitation, with 54 of a targeted 365 completed to date. The work is being sponsored by a $3.5 million Kfw grant. Work on overhauling eight diesel locomotives, taking approximately six months, is expected to start in September 2012 at a cost of $3.3 million.

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On 12 September, residents of Kabwe reportedly went on a “solidarity march” in support of the government cancelling the railway concession signed with Rail Systems of Zambia (RSZ) in 2003. Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba was quoted welcoming the move, saying that government and the private sector should now return to the drawing board to map out strategy. RSZ came in for strong criticism in government quarters which contended that the consortium had invested inadequately in the railway and had “underperformed”. In particular, it was suggested that road damage in the country was due to railway inadequacy.

FOOTNOTE: A year ago – in October 2011 – CEO Benjamin Even disclosed that RSZ had invested $US50 million in the railway since taking on the concession. In a joint statement with Railway Workers Union of Zambia president Gravel Musonda, Even said the government should implement transport policies which would make the railways more competitive, in order to shift trafﬁc from road to rail. “These are mainly reﬂected in the road levy refunds, support towards security and road regulations to be enforced such as weight limitations and toll gates,” Even said. RSZ, he explained, faces challenges such as “huge outstanding debts” from neighbouring countries’ railways estimated at $US6 million and about $US5 million of road levy paid by the company “which has never been refunded”. Vandalism, Even said, is a very big problem.

ZIMBABWE HARARE-BULAWAYO IN 1½ HRS On 13 September, Alex Bell reported on SW Radio Africa (London) that China is to fund a high-speed railway linking Harare with Bulawayo in 1½ hours. He quoted China Railways Corporation’s Zhao Guangfa saying that the multi-billion dollar project would take “about three years”. The scheme “forms part of a partnership between the Zimbabwe government and the China International Fund Consortium.”

Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

SA RAIL NEWS

SOUTH AFRICAN

RAIL NEWS CHINA TO SUPPLY LOCOS TO SOUTH AFRICA CSR Zhuzhou has announced that it is to supply 100km/h, 3.1MW, dual-voltage electric locomotives to South Africa. A figure of $US400 million was mentioned, with delivery starting as early as 2013. The four-axle units will be able to run on both 3kV DC and 25kV AC supply. The company said it won the contract – its first for electric locos on the African continent - in competition with eight other bidders, both SA and international. A local content requirement of 60% was specified by Transnet. CSR, which says it has invested in 1,067mm gauge technology, hopes to establish a base in South Africa from which it can supply other potential customers in the region. It also has its eye on possible contracts with the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) for the supply of multiple-unit electric commuter stock. South Africa’s newest electric locos currently in service, the class 19E, also have dual-voltage capability, as do the earlier class 14E.

TENDERS FOR PRASA ROLLING STOCK The biennial InnoTrans Expo, the world’s biggest rail trade fair, took place in Berlin in mid-September. South Africa’s ambitious rolling stock replacement plan was reportedly a subject of considerable interest. Tenders closed in the last week of September for the supply (over 20 years) of 7,200 passenger coaches to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). The 65% local content requirement means that the successful bidder will need to set up a substantial manufacturing facility in South Africa. Bidders for the PRASA coach tender were: • CAF of Spain; • Bombardier of Canada; • China South Rail; • China North Rail; • Gibela Rail Transportation (a French consortium comprising Alstom and Actom); • Dudula Rail, a consortium comprising ABB South Africa and Stadler of Switzerland; and • CSR/Wictra, a consortium comprising CSR of China and Wictra of South Africa.

BIG SIGNALLING CONTRACT COMPLETED Actom Signalling recently completed a R83 million signalling upgrade on a 480km section of the Johannesburg-Durban mainline from Union Junction near Germiston to Cedara near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal. Altogether, 92 stations were involved. The scope of the contract was: • Migration of blockworking from coaxial copper cable to optic fibre cable and installing CS90 remote control to replace the old S1 remote control system on the entire section from Union to Cedara. • Installation of 35U axle-counters and fail-safe data transceiver (FSDT) equipment between stations from Union through to Vooruitsig near Volksrust in KwaZulu-Natal. • Replacing the old evaluation system with new evaluators incorporating FSDT equipment on the Vooruitsig-Cedara portion of the line. In addition, the existing axle-counters on this section had to be linked to the new optic fibre cable for the CS90 remote control system. Transnet added two variation orders during the course of the contract: • Modification of the traffic control centres at Union, Standerton, Vooruitsig, Danskraal and Newcastle, involving coupling the CS90 system to these centres, followed by testing and commissioning. • Takeouts for a total of 10 stations that were eliminated at various different places on the line. This involved modifying the interlocking of the stations on either side of each takeout station, as well as moving the signals in each case. Actom (Pty) Ltd - specialist manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electro-mechanical equipment - employs about 7,500 people in Southern Africa with an annual order intake in excess of R7.5bn. It is a black-empowered company with 42 operating units, 43 production, service and repair facilities, and 36 distribution outlets throughout Southern Africa.

Transnet Freight Rail meanwhile is in the market for large numbers of new electric and diesel locomotives.

MANGANESE TARIFF REALITIES Coega Development Corporation Project Director Peter Inman is quoted by FTW emphasing that if transport tariffs become too costly, exports become “a waste of time.” He was referring particularly to the cost-sensitivity of manganese. According to FTW’s understanding, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) recently increased tariffs on the manganese line between Hotazel in the Northern Cape and the Port of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape by more than triple the ofﬁcial CPI. The rate of R280 per tonne was increased to R310 per tonne, “and before the year is out, the tariff is set to increase closer to R400 per tonne”.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

Trenching and cable laying in progress during ACTOM Signalling’s upgrade of the signalling systems on the 480 km section of the Natal Corridor between Germiston and Pietermaritzburg. Photo: Actom.

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SA RAIL NEWS FIRST 208-WAGON MANGANESE TRAIN On 13 September, a 208-wagon manganese test train left the Tshipi Borwa mine in the Northern Cape, bound for Port Elizabeth. It included four test coaches and 208 loaded CR wagons. Nett cargo mass was 13,104 tons. Total train length overall was 2.23km, with a gross mass of 16,640 tons.

TRAINS IN THE SNOW

The 18 diesel locomotives – grouped at the head, middle and rear of the consist - were controlled from the leading unit using radio distributed power (RDP) technology. This was also the ﬁrst train to use Tshipi’s newly commissioned siding. The facility features a long loop accommodating three 122-wagon trains to be parked without blocking the main line.

Snow was falling when Jacque Wepener caught this class 36 in the Free State.

QUADRUPLING MANGANESE EXPORT TRAFFIC Transnet’s firm resolve to route export manganese through the Eastern Cape rather than Saldanha faces one or two difficult realities. Unlike the Saldanha line, which is dedicated to heavy-haul freight consists, the route via Kimberley and De Aar is classified as “general freight”. Not only must the line be shared with other goods trains – it is used by Shosholoza Meyl intercity passenger services too. Added to this, the section down to the coast negotiates some pretty uneven topography. A manganese test train comprising 208 wagons (double the normal load) was operated recently with success, but this was a one-off working, with special arrangements in force throughout. There are long single-track sections, along which the length of crossing loops is a severely limiting factor. Notwithstanding these problems, Transnet envisages increasing the current traffic from 4.5 million tons a year to something like 16 (the capacity of the manganese loading terminal to be built at the new port of Ngqura). Manganese is essential in iron and steel production, and has important uses in industrial alloys, especially stainless steel. The provision of a high-carbon ferromanganese smelter is proposed in the Coega industrial zone adjacent to Ngqura. An entirely new line from to Ngqura from the Northern Cape will clearly be indispensable, dedicated to manganese. Feasibility studies are being done but Cleopatra Shiceka, Transnet Freight Rail General Manager in the office of the CE, says whatever is needed will not be finished before 2018.

SA STATIONS BITE THE DUST

Demolition taking place at Buffeljagtsrivier, 11km east of Swellendam and 322km from Cape Town on the line to Mossel Bay. Posted on sar-L, photographer not known.

On 29 September, the historic station at Touws River, 249km from Cape Town on the main-line to Johannesburg, burned down.

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Charles Baker took this wintry shot of class 18E locos hauling freight on the KwaZulu-Natal main-line on 8 August 2012.

TRANSNET: RECENT NEW WAGE AGREEMENT The 2012/13 Transnet wage agreement has been recognised as a good settlement following “many hours of difficult negotiating,” says Utatu/Sarwhu* general secretary Steve Harris. The new minimum wage after the agreed increase of 8.4% to basic salary will be R58,807 per annum. The value of the service bonus, which is payable in December of each year, will be calculated as follows: If an employee is in service for the full calendar year (1 January to 31 December) the service bonus value will be calculated as the employee’s April salary, multiplied by Utatu/Sarwhu general secretary Steve Harris. 12 and divided by 12. If an employee is in the service (from 1 February to 31 December) the service bonus will be calculated as the employee’s April salary, multiplied by 11 and divided by 12; from March, multiplied by 10 and divided by 12. If an employee is employed after April, the service bonus will be calculated as the employee’s take-on salary multiplied by the number of months the employee has been employed as at December, divided by 12. Employees who terminate service prior to the payment date of the service bonus will not qualify for a pro-rata payment. The value of the medical subsidy will increase to R7,800 per annum. The value of the housing allowance will increase to R8,640 per annum. Employees who have a disability that has been confirmed will, from January 2012, qualify for special disability leave of five calendar days over a three-year cycle. This leave will be called Disability Leave and will be additional to the normal sick leave entitlement. An employee may spread the four months’ paid maternity leave over the maternity leave period up to six months.

Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

SA RAIL NEWS Standby and Nightshift allowance will increase by 8,4%. Transnet will increase the overtime threshold from R172,000 to R183,008 per annum effective 1 July 2012 as per the ministerial determination as published in the Government Gazette. Transnet will reduce the number of ﬁxed-term contract employees to 14% of the permanent workforce by 31 March 2013. FOOTNOTE: *The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the South African Railways and Harbour Union (Sarwhu) recently amalgamated as Utatu/Sarwhu with a combined membership of some 27,000.

THALES IS METRORAL’S PREFERRED SIGNALS BIDDER Thales of France has been named preferred bidder for upgrading Metrorail’s signalling system at a cost estimated at about R1.8 billion. Work to revamp the signalling in Cape Town and Durban was to begin in October, Metrorail Western Cape Regional Manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz said. The Cape Town commuter train operation has come in for heavy criticism, with Metrorail blaming its troubles on ageing infrastructure.

RETIRED QR LOCOS ARRIVE IN DURBAN A group of retired Queensland Rail locos recently went on board ship at Brisbane bound for Durban. They were duly ofﬂoaded on 22 June and moved to Gauteng, most by rail (QR, like Transnet, uses the 1,067mm gauge). According to Les Bray reporting on sar-L, the units were purchased by the following companies (not by Transnet Rail Engineering, as stated in press reports):

Surtees: seven locos altogether: • 2600 class (nos 2601, 2604, 2605, 2607, 2609, 2610, 2612) Saﬂog: Eleven locos: • 1700 class (numbers not known) • 2100 class (numbers not known) Refurbished ex-Queensland diesel-electrics have been reported in service in Mozambique.

RRL-Grindrod: 15 locos altogether: • 6 x 1700 class (nos 1727, 1748, 1767, 1768, 1772, 1775); • 6 x 2600 class (nos 2600, 2602, 2603, 2606, 2608, 2611); • 3 x 3100 class

Charles Baker photographed the ex-Queensland locos at the harbour in Durban.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

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SHOSHOLOZA MEYL: A UNION’S VIEW Shosholoza Meyl, now a division on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) provides the country’s long-distance passenger train services. “Because of the low investment in its rolling stock and stations over many years, Shosholoza Meyl’s service and efﬁciency standards are in steep decline”, says Utatu/Sarwhu deputy general secretary Pieter Greyling. Quoted in Labour Report, he said: “There is talk of upgrading some stations, but it will be a long, drawn-out process. The priority is to upgrade the end stations and the depots in between where operating and maintenance crews can be housed. Many people will be affected by these changes. They will also affect customer service. The decline in Shosholoza Meyl’s services has resulted in a decrease in passengers as customers opt to use taxis and buses instead. That is creating a vicious circle as with fewer passengers, there is less income for upgrades. Plans to save the business urgently need to be put in place,” he says. “With fewer depots along the way for train crews, PRASA is using minibuses to transport crews to man the trains. That measure is costing the company a small fortune. Rubber wheels, as they are called, are not sustainable in the long run. The operating cost is about R700 million whereas the income is only about R400 million. It is madness. Certain members will be inconvenienced because they will have to relocate for operational requirements. Utatu/Sarwhu will be there to make the landing as soft as possible. This has tremendous cost implications for the individuals and their families. “There is also the aspect of transporting the crews for miles before they can report for duty. There is no way that they can be fully rested before they have to take over the responsibility of operating a train. That is not an ideal situation”.

NDP FOCUS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) identiﬁes strategic focus areas in transport infrastructure which need serious attention if the objectives are to be realised. Solutions that comprise safe, affordable and effective options must be prioritised; also – very importantly - transport must be addressed as a whole, not in terms of individual modes. In city planning, ways must be found to reduce the need for transport. For example, people should be enabled to live as close to employment areas as possible (in obvious contrast to the existing situation in South African cities). South Africans have to be convinced to reduce reliance on carbonintensive transport modes. Increasing the overall investment in transport is an obvious necessity. The bus rapid transit systems being implemented are cited as models for providing cost-effective, high-quality mass transit systems.

SA’S RAIL “CAN’T COPE WITH CHEMICAL TRANSPORT” According to the Chemical and Allied Industries Association quoted in Business Day, 48% of all vehicle crashes on the N3 toll road between Durban and Johannesburg, which is one of the chemical industry’s main transport routes, involve heavy-duty trucks. The association says this “raises questions” about the risk inherent in transporting possibly dangerous chemicals by road rather than rail. N3 Toll Concession Commercial Manager Con Roux is quoted saying: “Depending on the time of day, 30-35% of the trafﬁc [on the N3] is heavy vehicles, which are involved in about 50% of the accidents. Louise Lindeque, Manager of SA’s arm of Responsible Care, a global initiative to improve safety in the chemicals industry, told the paper: “Rail infrastructure is not able to cope with

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SA RAIL NEWS chemicals. Chemical companies have problems with security on the rail and with efﬁciency.” The 162 member companies of the Chemical and Allied Industries Association include manufacturers, distributors, warehousing, hauliers and spill response ﬁrms.

the economy R34 billion annually, equivalent to about 20% of road freight costs. Logistics costs in South Africa, he told delegates, are among the highest in the world. The importance of rail“recapturing the logistics market” was emphasised by Seedat, as well as Transnet Freight Rail CE Siyabonga Gama.

PRASA TO PRIORITISE BEE IN BUILDING COACHES The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) envisages a large company being established in the country to manufacture rail passenger coaches. CEO Lucky Montana is talking of a R15 billion black economic empowerment programme with a minimum of 30% equity for black investors. A “selection process” to choose black investors is expected to be complete by the end of January, according to PRASA’s Piet Sebola quoted in Business Day.

PRASA’S REAL ESTATE ASPIRATIONS Real estate owned by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) totals about 4,200 hectares of land including 374 stations. Formerly known as Intersite, PRASA Corporate Real Estate Solutions (CRES) holds and manages this vast property portfolio. Much of it, notably located in prime locations, is ripe for development. CRES is currently looking into the possibilities of developing its holdings - new ofﬁce blocks and shopping malls being some of the projects it has in mind.

Near Vetrivier on the Free State main-line in August 2012, class 6E1 1537 leading. Photo: Jacque Wepener.

TRANSPORT BY ROAD COSTS SA BILLIONS

TRANSNET WILL PRODUCE EXCESS SKILLS CAPACITY

Speaking at the tenth Intermodal Africa Conference in Durban on 6 September, Acting Deputy Director-General of Transport Adam Seedat said moving goods by road in South Africa “costs billions annually”, making a “strong case” for improving the country’s rail infrastructure. This Seedat said is “a critical element in building a globally competitive transport system”. According to estimates, factors such as delays caused by trafﬁc congestion, and high maintenance costs – notably in the trucking industry – are costing

Transnet is to spend R7.6 billion on training over the next seven years, GCE Brian Molefe says. “New employees” will account for R4bn of this. Current strategy is to train numbers well in excess of the group’s own needs, releasing the overﬂow – once they have acquired vital skills - back into the country’s economy”. More precisely, Transnet requires about 600 additional artisans annually, but plans to train 2,000 every year. When the programme is at its peak, 220,000 jobs will be created.

SA RAILWAYS: SOME STRAIGHT TALKING Editorial in The Citizen, (Johannesburg): “South Africa has about 28,000km of railway track, of which only a very small percentage is in use. Many small towns and sidings have been ghost towns because Transnet no longer moves large amounts of cargo throughout the country. This must change. Transnet must invest in rail infrastructure and reawaken this sleeping giant. The rail giant must actively market its transport services. The inﬂux of large trucks on our roads has made our roads even more dangerous and at the same time they are destroying what is left of our good roads. An efﬁcient railway transport system for cargo and goods is essential.”

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

The Blue Train near Bloemhof during September, with a very dirty class 18E (037) leading. Photo: Jacque Wepener.

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SA RAIL NEWS

R300BN TRANSNET PLAN TO CREATE JOBS Transnet says its Market Demand Strategy (MDS), will see the company spending R300 billion on capital projects over a seven-year period. The group expects to create up to 588,000 new job opportunities.

Rail traffic volumes are projected to increase from approximately 200 million tons per annum to 350 million tons during the period. By 2019, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) hopes to increase its market share of container traffic to 92% from 79% currently. Transnet says its studies show that rail in South Africa is on average 75% cheaper than road transport. A large-scale shift from road to rail would address costs and congestion while reducing carbon emissions. The MDS is the centrepiece of government’s growth strategy through investment in infrastructure and a key component of enabling the aspirations of the New Growth Path (NGP). According to Transnet, “The MDS will catapult TFR, which has the lion’s share of the investment programme, into the world’s fifth biggest rail freight company.” HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MDS: • R300 billion capital investment programme • R205 billion to be allocated to rail projects and R151 billion to general freight to support the growth in volumes to 170 million tons per annum (mtpa) • Expand export coal from 68mtpa to 97.5mtpa

• Expand iron ore exports from 53mtpa to 82.5mtpa • Container volumes handled through the ports to increase from 4.3 million to 7.6 million twenty-foot equivalent unit containers (TEUs) • Investment in the final phases of the new multi-product pipeline • Stronger financial position: Revenue growth of 16% per annum over the next seven years, driven by volume growth • EBITDA - Transnet’s key measure of profitability - will more than triple to R68 billion by 2018/19 • R213,6 billion of the required funding will be generated from operating cashflows • R86,5 billion of the required funding will be raised from debt capital markets • Gearing and cash interest cover will remain within target levels of 50% and greater than three times respectively • Significant productivity and efficiency improvements expected in rail and port operations • Growth of the local industry through programmatic procurement - approximately 50% of the R78 billion set aside for locomotives will be spent on local suppliers • Transnet’s employee headcount will peak at 74,000 in 2018/19. The total number of jobs expected to be created via MDS will peak at 588,000 – this includes direct, indirect and economywide jobs • Skills development: R7.7 billion spent on training by 2018/19 including R4.7 billion on bursaries and grants Transnet expects to see revenue “almost triple from R46 billion to R128 billion over the next seven years.”

KEEPING AIR FLOWING EFFICIENTLY

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Email: sales@vherail.co.za

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GM848 PRESSLINK_TRE

The MDS is aimed at expanding South Africa’s rail, port and pipelines infrastructure, resulting in a signiﬁcant increase in freight volumes, especially in commodities such as iron ore, coal and manganese, as well as achieving a signiﬁcant modal shift from road to rail. The main objective of the strategy is to meet validated market demand and thereby enable economic growth.

Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

SA RAIL NEWS

METRORAIL BETTER IN 30 WAYS According to Metrorail (Western Cape) Regional Manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz, 30 noteworthy improvements have been achieved since the June 2012 launch of a determined programme to improve service. The number of scheduled trains cancelled has been reduced and punctuality is better. Mulders Vlei Kraaifontein

TABLE BAY CAPE TOWN

Woodstock

Monte Vista

Athlone Wynberg

Bellville

Langa

Stellenbosch

Heideveld Nyanga

Mandalay

Eersterivier Khayelitsha Chris Hani Somerset West

Philippi Retreat

Mitchells Plain Kapteinsklip

Major improvements included: * Replacement of all broken coach windows and doors. * The provision of platform marshals at eight stations. * An increase in train running speeds. * Revised working hours. * Special task teams. * Better revenue collection. * The addition of three new trainsets to the ﬂeet, which now totals 88. * The introduction of a mobile information system. * The provision of fencing at all stations and beside rail tracks.

Van der Stel Muizenberg

Strand

FALSE BAY

Fish Hoek Simon’s Town

0 kms

10 kms

20 kms

Referring to safety, which he acknowledged as a serious problem, Swartz says the number of security guards has been increased from 469 to 569, to improve security at stations. These are supplemented by 400 railway police ofﬁcers and 100 soldiers. More than R10 million is being spent monthly on security services. Talks are being held with the city aimed at linking railway closed circuit television equipment to the municipal operations centre. Two trainsets are held for use in emergency at Kraaifontein, also Nyanga and Retreat. In the next three years, 28 stations are to be upgraded, notably Heideveld, Nyanga, Mitchells Plain, Chris Hani, Bellville and Woodstock. It is planned to provide secure storage for bicycles on all stations. Other facilities envisaged include an electronic ticketing system in conjunction with municipal and Golden Arrow buses.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

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SA RAIL NEWS THE CHOO-TJOE: SLOW TURNING WHEELS The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train operation between George and Knysna has been out of action for over six years, thanks to devastating ﬂood damage. The Western Cape Province, speciﬁcally its Department of Tourism, is keen to revive the line which used to be a leading tourist attraction. “The transfer of ownership [from Transnet] of the train is a priority issue that needs to be addressed quickly if we are to preserve the train as a heritage icon. The longer it lies idle, the harder it will be to get it back on the tracks,” Western Cape Finance and Tourism MEC Alan Winde said in January 2011. However, he is still waiting for a decision by Transnet

on whether the assets of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe can (and are to) be transferred to the province. According to reports late in 2011, a Transnet task team was investigating “various operational models”, and Winde was supposed to get a ﬁrm answer from Transnet by November 2011. The Heritage Rail Association of South Africa (HRASA) wrote to the National Minister of Tourism some months ago, It was told that heritage rail is not his responsibility but that of the Department of Transport.

Partially buried track on the Knysna branch, Anton van Schalkwyk took the photos in August 2012.

GAUTRAIN NEWS “HARDLY USED” GAUTRAIN EQUIPMENT ON AUCTION According to announcements, an impressive list of Gautrain equipment was to be auctioned at the Midrand site on 10 October. The sale list included a 1,300hp diesel-electric locomotive recently fitted with a new Cummins engine; a Thyssen Henschel DHG 700C diesel- hydraulic locomotive; a “shunting Locomotive-Vaiacar TSR 340”; Vaiacar rail trolleys; flat wagons and ballast wagons. A “1830m demountable almost new double-storey office block” was listed, “furnished with top-quality, high-value Beechwood office furniture”. This was said to range from boardroom tables with full sets of chairs to “a huge variety of modern Beechwood workstations, each with its own lockable filing facility”. There were also CCTV cameras, printers and a “huge quantity” of security control radios. Prospective buyers were assured that whatever they were interested in was in good condition and “hardly used”.

GAUTRAIN A BETTER OPTION Taking recent (as at early October) fuel price hikes into account, Gautrain may be a cheaper option than motoring between Sandton and Pretoria, The New Age suggests.

Appel quotes Senior Economist at Investment Solutions Chris Hart saying (when vehicle wear-and-tear is factored in): “I think the Gautrain is probably a better option.”

“The average motorist driving from Hatﬁeld, Pretoria, to Sandton,” writes reporter Michael Appel, “every day Monday to Friday will drive roughly 2,200km a month (110km round trip x 20 working days). If the motorist’s fuel tank capacity is 50l, it will cost R598.50 to ﬁll the tank.

[Appel calculates on the basis of daily fare multiplied by 20 but isn’t the multi-ride ticket cheaper? We tried checking the Gautrain website on three successive days - admittedly over a weekend but were unable to call up fare details. Maybe our computer isn’t worldclass.

“Assuming the fuel efﬁciency allows the motorist to get 600km per tank in urban driving conditions, the tank would need to be ﬁlled just more than twice at a cost of over R1,200 a month, not factoring in maintenance costs.

WEBSITE FOURTH TRY LUCKY - A 35-day ticket between Hatﬁeld and Sandton costs R1,620, ie somewhat less than Appel’s ﬁgure. - Editor: Railways Africa.]

“A commuter taking the Gautrain from Hatﬁeld station to Sandton station daily pays R1,840 a month (R92 round trip x 20 working days), plus an extra R60 if a Gautrain bus is used daily.”

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GAUTRAIN PARKING FALLING SHORT Gautrain parking provision has been falling short at the Rhodesﬁeld, Centurion, Hatﬁeld and Pretoria stations, Bombela’s Kelebogile

Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

SA RAIL NEWS

[During the building phase, there were expectations of 100,000 daily train passengers. The actual ﬁgure today is under 40,000 but the authorities are conﬁdent this will nearly treble in a few years. The parking implications are alarming. - Editor: Railways Africa.]

promote products and services, to assist in evaluating customer requirements, and provide insights into potential competition in countries where they wish to develop business. The selection, retention and compensation of agents is done in accordance with international standards and regulations and follows a rigorous process including due diligence that complies with all applicable local and international laws and regulations.”

GAUTRAIN STIMULATING ROSEBANK

GAUTRAIN RULES

The arrival of Gautrain in Johannesburg’s Rosebank is largely credited for the area literally “taking off”. Eight hotels, five of them five-star, are now to be found within one square kilometre, Moneyweb points out. Though the five-star Hyatt Regency isn’t brand new (it has been in Oxford Road since 1995), the management says “banqueting business” became spectacular after the Gautrain station opened in October 2011. The hotel is to spend R100 million on refurbishing, including upgrading of the 100m walkway to the station.

Answering questions in the Gauteng Legislature, Transport MEC Ismail Vadi confirmed that Gautrain imposes fines on people who break the rules. To date, he disclosed, about 550 commuters have paid fines amounting to more than R38,000 for breaching regulations at stations. A penalty of R700 was imposed on two sisters in July, after security guards caught them chewing gum on a Gautrain station platform. This was in breach of the rules. Replying to suggestions that the women were detained for four hours, Vadi said he was assured by the Gautrain CEO that only two-and-a-half hours were involved. He said he fully supported the action taken by the security guards and warned commuters not to be rude, difficult or defiant, otherwise action would be taken against them.

Machaka told the press. She suggests commuters should use Gautrain feeder buses rather than drive.

FRENCH ART AT GAUTRAIN STATIONS An exhibition of portraits and photographs by French artist Antoine Tempé, celebrating performances by leading African and AfroAmerican contemporary dancers, was on display during October 2012 at Gautrain stations in Johannesburg (Park station, Rosebank, Sandton and Midrand) and also Hatﬁeld in Pretoria. The Danse l’Afrique danse! event was organised as part of the France-South Africa Seasons 2012 & 2013, an initiative conceived and facilitated by the governments of the two countries to give the people of France and South Africa an opportunity to understand each other better through cultural, scientiﬁc, sport, education and business engagement.

“It’s a Gautrain rule: everything to be tested for leaks – tunnels, trains, buses, the lot.”

BOMBELA WAGE AGREEMENT

GAUTRAIN GATE Following a story in the Mail & Guardian, Bombardier Inc issued a statement denying any involvement in bribery or unethical conduct in connection with the Gautrain project. It said: “We do not condone making any payments to win contracts, Such initiatives are totally against our ethics and we condemn any such behaviour. Bombardier maintains and will continue to maintain the highest standards of ethical behaviour in all of our dealings worldwide.”

With membership exceeding 65% of employees at the Bombela (Gautrain) operating concession, Utatu/Sarwhu* is the only representative union. The ﬁrst wage negotiations since the inception of Gautrain began in March 2012. “The talks dragged on longer than they should have,” the union’s general secretary Steve Harris told Labour Report. “An agreement was eventually reached after we had invoked the dispute mechanism and demonstrated the resolve of our members.” The 2012 Agreement provides for: • An across-the-board increase of 7% on basic salary from 1 July. • Agreement that there will be no retrenchments for a period of twelve months from date of signing, ie 30 July 2012. • Introduction of a guaranteed 13th cheque, calculated as 100% of an employee’s one-month salary in December of each year. • A housing allowance of R200 per month. • Maternity leave payment of 100% of salary for the ﬁrst two months and 0% for the next two months. Alternatively the employee can opt for 50% over all four months.

According to the Globe & Mail, a spokesman for Bombardier conﬁrmed that Youssef Zarrouk (described as a “shadowy Tunisian middleman” by the M&G), had been an “appointed company representative.” Bombardier explained that payments to agents like Zarrouk are “based on market rates and industry norms”. Some $US35 million had been paid to Zarrouk to ensure Bombardier landed the Gautrain contract, the Mail & Guardian alleged. There were remarkable similarities to the controversial South African arms deal, the paper suggested, “including like-worded agency contracts, very large offshore payments in case the tender is won and even a related cast of characters.”

Union general secretary Steve Harris told Labour Report: “Measured against Bombela’s ﬁnancial circumstances and present economic circumstances, this is a fair and realistic pay settlement.”

Bombardier was quoted saying: “It is a common practice in many industries for companies to hire representatives and agents to

FOOTNOTE: *Utatu (United Transport and Allied Trade Union) and Sarwhu (South African Railways and Harbour Union) recently amalgamated.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

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MISHAPS & BLUNDERS

Mishaps & Blunders One objective of our regular feature reporting and commenting on rail mishaps is to provide information and object lessons from Africa and abroad, in the hope that – in some cases at least - this might help avoid recurrences. COLLISION WITH TRUCK AT AUTO-BARRIER CROSSING A number of serious accidents have been reported around the world recently, involving collisions between trains and heavy road vehicles. Britain’s Rail Accidents Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its instructive ofﬁcial (Crown copyright) report: Collision between a train and a lorry and trailer on Llanboidy automatic half barrier level crossing 19 December 2011.

slowly over the crossing, the barrier on the exit side came down in front of the lorry, causing the driver to stop his vehicle on the line. The train driver applied emergency brakes as soon as he saw the obstruction, but when he realised he was unable to stop in time, left his seat, rushed into the passenger saloon and warned occupants of the imminent collision. This action saved him from personal injury as the lorry’s load caused internal damage in the driver’s cab. The RAIB made a number of recommendations arising from its findings, the main ones being the necessity to realign the road through the crossing and reposition the traffic signal. Other recommendations concerned design modifications to the front end of the train.

Welsh crossing collision. Photo: RAIB.

A train to Manchester from Milford Haven struck a lorry and trailer on a level crossing near Whitland in Wales. The impact caused the lorry to be separated from its trailer and pushed along the track. The lorry driver left his cab prior to the collision but was struck by the trailer and slightly injured. The train was not derailed but 27 passengers were hurt, one seriously, and four received treatment in hospital. The train conductor and the catering host received hospital treatment for minor injuries and the driver suffered shock.

Road signs on the approach to the crossing instructed drivers of large or slow vehicles to phone the signaller for permission to cross the railway. The accident occurred because the lorry driver did not phone and because a number of factors caused him to use the right-hand side of the road as he crossed the line. This section was misaligned with the rest of the road and the road trafﬁc light signal on the left projected a metre into the roadway. In addition, there were other vehicles parked close to the crossing. While travelling

Approach showing sign at crossing overlapping roadway. Photos: RAIB.

SHELTAM DIESELS WRECKED IN MOZAMBIQUE

CROSSING ACCIDENT KILLS EIGHT

Nearly-new Sheltam diesel-electric locos 3016 and 3020 are lying out of service at Beira in Mozambique following a recent collision. It is understood they were hauling a freight train on the Sena Line and rear-ended a stationary consist. Both units were damaged, the leading loco seriously. It is understood that Sheltam intends to ship both back to Port Elizabeth for repair.

Eight people died and one was severely injured when a trailer carrying about 16 people was hit by a train on a crossing at Chilleni (Romania) on 9 September. Police blamed the 78-year-old driver of the tractor pulling the trailer, who was slightly hurt. Breathalyser tests proved negative.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

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MISHAPS & BLUNDERS BOMB HOAX DELAYS TRAINS AT PAARL On 24 August, an early morning call to the police at Paarl warned of a bomb at the local station. The facility was evacuated while a detailed search was carried out. Six trains were delayed for between 20 and 40 minutes while explosives experts swept the area. The train service resumed at 08:20 after the situation was declared safe. Metrorail Regional Manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz was quoted saying: “We condemn the action in the strongest possible terms; any individual causing such mayhem must be dealt with severely.” Swartz reiterated an earlier appeal to the public to expose hoax callers. “These individuals thrive on causing chaos and must be stopped immediately.”

TRUCK OVERTURNS ON COMMUTER LINE Afternoon rush-hour Metra commuter trains to and from Chicago were delayed on 7 September after a large truck carrying furniture overturned on a three-track Union Paciﬁc level crossing in Des Plaines, Illinois. scattering its load over two of the lines. Nobody was injured in the accident, the truck driver escaping from his cab unhurt. It took an hour to get

the truck upright and off the line, before rail operations could resume.

BILLIONS SPENT ON TRAIN SAFETY: PRASA Mosenngwa Moﬁ of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says theft and vandalism pose a huge challenge to the organisation, which spends nearly a billion rand annually ﬁghting crime on trains and stations. The company has committed itself to improving passenger safety, with the recent launching of a National Rail Safety Campaign. Platform marshals are to be introduced in an endeavour to prevent trains moving with open doors

MORE BOMB THREATS IN CAPE TOWN On 17 September, shortly after 06:00, police received a call advising there was a bomb on Maitland station. Trains scheduled through the station were halted, the entire precinct was cleared and a thorough search carried out, but nothing was found. Maitland is a key junction in the suburban railway network some 5km from the main Cape Town terminus. Train services through the station resumed at 07:15, representing a massive disruption to commuters travelling to work.

This was the twelfth bomb threat since March, says Metrorail Regional Manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz, who believes there’s more to it than mischievous hoaxing. It is clear, he told the press, there are people beneﬁting from the threats which are deliberately made during rush hours. In the light of rumours that minibus-taxis might be involved, West Cape News spoke to Robert Langebarie, provincial spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) who said he did not think taxi people were responsible. Metrorail in the Western Cape transports some 800,000 commuters a day, about 100,000 being delayed by the most recent incident.

COLLISION IN CHINA: 24 HURT On 24 August the Xinhua news agency reported that two passenger trains had collided at the Jiamusi station in Heilongjiang province, in the north-east of the country, injuring at least 24 people. Apparently a locomotive hauling four empty coaches ran into a stationary train while passengers were alighting.

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MISHAPS & BLUNDERS 857-INJURY SOWETO CRASH REPORT

nothing to do with the rail service, trains were stoned and tyres burned on the line. Major train delays ensued on the PretoriaMabopane route, leaving the service running about 60 minutes behind schedule. Seven passengers reported injury and one was admitted to hospital. Metrorail Regional Operations Manager (Gauteng North) Abram Nkgabutle appealed to the community to desist from vandalising trains, saying that service in the Mabopane corridor would have to be withdrawn if trouble persisted.

IN COURT FOR COPPER THEFT

Photo: ER24.

On 28 September, South Africa’s Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) released its report on the 19 May 2011 Metrorail train crash in Soweto that injured 857 people.

Four men appeared in the Queenstown magistrate’s court on 17 August charged with stealing copper. The were caught by Transnet security personnel who found them in possession of copper cable estimated to be worth R273,000. They were remanded in custody while investigations continued in an endeavour to discover where the theft took place. According to the police, ﬁve accomplices were still at large.

METRORAIL SAFETY CAMPAIGN The investigators found that a train travelling in excess of the prescribed speed overran signals and crashed into a stationary Business Express set between Mzimhlophe and Phomolong en route from Johannesburg to Naledi. Enquiry Board Chairman Dr Chris Dutton told the press that the driver of the moving train had a record of previous disciplinary shortcomings, including speeding, and should in fact have been dismissed before the date of the accident. The driver of the stationary train was also to blame in that he failed to report to the train control officer that his set had broken down. According to Dutton, there was no cloud cover nor any other deficiency in signal visibility on the day of the accident. Analysis of the data logger showed that red signals were passed at speed with no attempt to stop. In addition, the driver exceeded the prescribed speed limit. The Up Slow Line had been closed due to earlier flood damage. If this line had been open, the crash may not have occurred. It transpired during the investigation that drivers resort to using cellphones because the trunking radio “regularly fails”. Metrorail provides train drivers with R200 worth of airtime to communicate with their train control officers. The drivers maintain the airtime is not enough, resulting in their using messages instead of voice communication. [Adapted from SAnews.gov.za]

CRANE COLLAPSE ON LINE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION On 15 August, a mobile crane being used to service signals on a Chicago line owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) collapsed at midday, blocking all three tracks used by the Metra commuter service. It took some ﬁve hours to remove the obstruction. BNSF says it is still investigating the incident and is unable to say at this stage whether the cause was a mechanical malfunction.

On 23 August, South African urban commuter operator Metrorail launched its National Railway Safety Campaign. Metrorail has been strongly criticised for its poor safety record, notably by Western Cape Transport MEC Robin Carlisle. In the province, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) has the services of 100 SANDF members, 400 railway police personnel and 569 private security guards, The stations at Pinelands, Bellville, Bonteheuwel, Retreat, Wynberg, Claremont, Lakeside and Du Toit are to have platform marshals – 84 in all.

CHICAGO DERAILMENT INVOLVES THREE TRAINS Early on 2 September, eight wagons derailed when a freight train struck the rear of another in south-west Chicago, derailing several wagons, some of which hit a third train on a parallel line. All three were inbound to Chicago. A power line was brought down, reportedly cutting electricity to some 2,500 properties. One train with two locomotives and 13 wagons was from Nashville, Tennessee. The second was from Albany in New York state (four locos, 93 wagons) and the third – from Flint in Michigan - had 130 wagons headed by two locos.

37 WAGONS DERAIL A double-headed freight train from Chicago heading for Harrisburg in Pennsylvania derailed 37 of its 43 wagons in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at about 07:00 on 8 September. The Norfolk Southern Railroad main-line was blocked until early afternoon, as were two level crossings. Nobody was hurt in the accident but press reports said all 43 wagons were damaged. Fortunately none were carrying hazardous material.

RUNAWAY WAGONS Two railway wagons which ran away on 21 August in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are puzzling investigators of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF). Loaded with lumber, it was determined they passed over at least two level crossings before derailing close to a plumbing business. In 1999, the same ﬁrm had its premises demolished during the night when runaway rail wagons derailed at a considerable speed and smashed unto it.

VANDALISM AT KOPANONG On 14 September 2012, Metrorail’s evening peak train service was disrupted due to violent service delivery protests at Kopanong, a township near Rosslyn and Soshanguve. Though the action had

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

STEAM LOCO IN CROSSING COLLISION Railway crossing accidents occur all too frequently but few these days involve steam engines. On 26 August, a sports utility vehicle

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MISHAPS & BLUNDERS was hit on a crossing in northern New Jersey by a train of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society, with about 45 people on board. According to press coverage, “The driver of the SUV was evaluated by paramedics and released.”

FATAL BALTIMORE ACCIDENT DERAILED 21 WAGONS Investigations into a bizarre midnight accident on 21 August, when two girls died while sitting on a bridge at Ellicott, Baltimore, reveal that the double-headed train of 80 wagons braked suddenly, but not apparently due to action by the driver. The leading 21 vehicles came off the track, possibly as a result of the air-line fracturing, causing a simulated emergency stop. The girls were buried under tons of spilled coal. Fibre-optic cables broken in the accident disrupted Internet service at the United States naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, delaying an important terrorist trial. According to Federal Railroad Administration statistics, 178 people were killed in accidents on or near rail lines in the US between January and May 2012. This ﬁgure excludes level crossing incidents.

APPLE EXPRESS LOSES THOUSANDS THROUGH THEFT In a break-in at the Transnet Humewood diesel depot ofﬁces used by the Apple Express group, a computer, heavy-duty power cables, tools and other items worth about R60,000 were stolen. Earlier, copper worth about R2 million was stolen from the depot over a period of a month. In early 2010, a truckload of irreplaceable locomotive spares was removed.

HRASA Chair Nerina Skuy told The Herald that the depot is poorly lit. Though there is high-mast lighting, it has been inoperable for many months, if not years, due to missing parts. “There are no lights at the entrances of buildings or ofﬁces. The depot is literally in semi-darkness and to date, the lights have not been repaired,” she told the paper. According to The Herald, “Transnet Security Manager John Elliot said his department was not responsible for security at the depot. He referred requests for comment to Transnet communication management.” Elliot was quoted saying: “As the Apple Express is a private entity whenever their items are stolen they should report the matter to the SAPS…..Apple Express can also hire their own registered security company to protect their assets and whatever company they use to perform work on Transnet property they should undergo a safety induction.” But as Skuy points out: “The Apple Express train is actually the asset of Transnet Foundation… It is in our [HRASA] custody for its safekeeping and operation. HRASA has a memorandum of understanding with the Foundation and as such we are committed to do what is best for these assets in trying to ensure they are preserved and safe.”

SIGNALS HALT GAUTENG TRAINS Trains came to a standstill at Johannesburg’s Park station in the afternoon peak hour on 29 August. According to Metrorail’s Lillian Mofokeng, “signal power failures affected the movement of all trains to and from Pretoria, Soweto, Tembisa and Vereeniging.” Technicians were working on the problem and she apologised for the inconvenience, asking commuters to ﬁnd alternative transport.

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MISHAPS & BLUNDERS OVERHEAD LINE COLLAPSE DAMAGES TRAM Britain’s Rail Accidents Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its ofﬁcial (Crown copyright) report: Collapse of the overhead line near to Jewellery Quarter Tram Stop, Midland Metro 20 April 2011. A tram in Birmingham “struck an item of overhead line equipment (OLE), known as a cantilever, which had previously become partially detached from its supporting pole. This caused damage to Tram 13 and led to a progressive collapse of the OLE for about 200 metres, which resulted in further damage to the tram. Three Smashed windscreen on adult and three child passengers Birmingham tram. Photo: RAIB. required hospital treatment.

in the driver’s cab and passenger saloon and to the tram’s doors. Immediately after the tram came to a stand, the driver made an emergency call to Metro Control to report the accident and to conﬁrm that the OLE was electrically isolated so that it was safe to open the tram doors and initiate an emergency evacuation. “The tram crew consisted of a driver and a customer service representative (CSR) who was in the saloon at the time of the incident. Drivers receive training in dealing with OLE incidents, in the emergency evacuation of passengers from trams and in acting as the primary member of service (Primos) at incidents. The Primos is the NXMM member of staff who will take charge of an incident on behalf of the tramway and liaise with other agencies pending the arrival of an Incident Ofﬁcer.” [The report explains: “The role of a customer service representative (CSR) is primarily to give information to passengers and to collect revenue” (ie a conductor – though It seems they still use only one word for “driver”).]

“The cantilever became detached because part of the assembly which connected it to its supporting pole, known as the reducing sleeve, had fractured after becoming mechanically overloaded. The cantilever may have been restrained to some degree from rotating around its supporting pole. This restraint, the way in which the cantilever was installed, the ambient temperature and reduced clearances around tensioned components were also possibly factors in creating the overload. “The striking of the cantilever caused severe damage to the tram’s pantograph… This caused further cantilevers to become partially or fully detached from their poles and to be struck by Tram 13, causing damage to the front and rear windscreens, to side windows

Reinstalling cantilever arm after the accident. Photo: RAIB.

MAJOR DISRUPTION TO GAUTENG TRAINS

LIGHTNING KNOCKS OUT COMMUTER TRAINS

On 7 September, Metrorail’s Tony Games in Johannesburg advised that “the train service is experiencing serious challenges that has affected the provision of a normal service on account of the bad weather.

On 8 September, Metrorail’s Tony Games in Johannesburg advised that “stormy weather” had interrupted service in various areas “with expected major train delays. Lightning has hit a substation at Pinedene Station, which rendered both lines without overhead power. This affected all trains on the Pretoria to Johannesburg and back.”

“The following corridors are running behind schedule, as a result, manual authorisations have been put in place because of faulty blocks, overhead power failures, CTC panels out, tracks not working and single lines introduced: • Mabopane to Eerste Fabrieke, Ga-Rankuwa, Mabopane, Mamelodi. • Oberholzer, Naledi authorisation at New Canada. • Katlehong at India and Kutalo. • Single line working between Vereeniging and Meyerton due to cable theft. • Pretoria\Leralla trains to Joburg authorised at Olifantsfontein to Kaalfontein. • Major delays at Randfontein - 25 minutes, • Vereeniging via Midway up to 40 minutes delay expected.”

“Other corridors in the West and East area also experienced more or less the same challenges ranging from ﬂooded rail tracks that is affecting the movement of trains, power failures, to faulty points and panel out in Pretoria North. “Metrorail technical teams will despite the challenges posed by the stormy rains ensure that trains are authorised to run to ensure the safe movement of these trains in the region.” Games apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to customers to ﬁnd alternative transport.

TWO KILLED ON THE TRACK Games apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to customers to ﬁnd alternative transport.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

On 7 September 2012, two pregnant women, reportedly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, were killed by a train while crossing the line near Kuilsrivier station, east of Bellville in the Western Cape. It is understood the women took a short cut by way of a broken fence.

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Act safely at level crossings

RAILWAY HERITAGE

Preservation is A Vital Part of The Picture

By John Batwell

Reefsteamers, Germiston In mid-August, the class 12AR 4-8-2 no 1535 was patiently waiting for its eight new tubes to be fitted. Both tube plates had been treated, and the copper ferrules were already in place at the firebox end. Some tubes were to be fitted over a fortnight in August and the club had a certified welder booked for the final job. Unfortunately, one of the holes appears to have been built up with welding, and the welds are showing cracks. It needs to be carefully inspected and the boiler inspector called out to check. It is likely that the group will need to do a penetrative dye test. If the hole fails, the work team will have to cut out a section of tube plate and fabricate a patch. This would put the 12AR out of action for a while. Work continues with getting class 15F 4-8-2 no 2914 back to running order. During August it was reported that the patch plate for the firebox’s right-hand rear corner, which has been forged into a matching radiused corner, had been certified as still-compliant even after being heated. It was due to be cut to shape and drilled. The winter Open Day on 28 July saw both the old and the latest in South African traction in action: Visitors were met off the Gautrain at Rhodesfield and taken in a steam-hauled train to Reefsteamers’ Germiston site.

Pipework had been removed for safekeeping after it was ﬁtted to be set and sorted. New metal sheeting to replace the poor lagging under the boiler has been ordered, and replacing this will be the next project. Work continues on the tender. At the beginning of September, a celebratory social function was hosted for new preservation steam drivers Anthony Attwell and Gabor Kovacs.

Ex-SAR Class NG15, Welsh Highland Railway Work is in progress on ex-SAR class NG15 “Kalahari” 2-8-2 no 134. In June, it was reported that the cylinders had been re-bored; the loco drag box had the rivets knocked out and was ready to be removed and a completely new drag box was to be attached. Work was at an advanced stage on no 134’s tender, the tender box sitting on sister no 133’s frame while 134’s tender frame was sorted. Locomotive no 134 was built by Franco-Belge in 1952.

Ex-SAR Class A Tank Engine at Woking in England This past English summer, it was reported that the repaint of former South African Railways’ class A tank no 196 was coming on well at the Mizen’s Railway, Woking, despite inclement weather.

Sandstone Heritage Trust Sandstone Heritage Trust’s annual steam and heritage gathering is to take place from 4-12 May 2013. The trust will be celebrating the centenary of Kerr-Stuart class NG4 no 16, a well-designed and very iconic tank engine built speciﬁcally for the Alfred County Railway and delivered in 1913. The loco is to play a prominent role in the activities and celebrations throughout the festival which is entitled “Stars of Sandstone”. Contact Kirsten Rose for more details at: kirstenr@sandstone.co.za

The former South African Railways’ class A Tank locomotive receives some tender loving care at Mizen’s, Woking. Photo: John Batwell collection.

Zimbabwe Steam Tour, 2013 Geoff’s Trains is planning this event between 18-24 May. The activity centres on the NRZ’s North Line in the Thomson Junction and Victoria Falls areas. NRZ is due to supply Garratts of classes 15 and 16A for the photographic activities just south and north of the junction. The colliery’s steam is on the agenda as well as the privately-owned class 14A 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 at Victoria Falls.

Sandstone Trust’s class NG4 will be the highlight of the “Stars of Sandstone” festival next year. Photo: John Batwell collection.

For a day-by-day breakdown of the tour and other details refer to www.geoffs-trains.com

Kwazulu-Natal Steam in 2013 Friends of The Rail, Pretoria During the winter period, work proceeded on class 15CA 4-8-2 no 2850 with plenty of needle gunning to remove rust and old paint.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

Between 10-16 May 2013, Geoff’s Trains is planning a tour making use of preserved class GMAM Garratt no 4074 and narrow gauge class NGG11 no 55. The class 19Ds still in industrial use at Saiccor

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RAILWAY HERITAGE on the South Coast are included too. For full details of this tour opportunity which embraces some scenic, hinterland countryside, refer to www.geoffs-trains.com

Bamangwato Concessions, Selebi-Phikwe

Victoria Falls Steam Train Company This Zimbabwean tour operator has introduced a Cape-gauge tram at Victoria Falls (see photo). The vehicle was built new by Prof Engineering in South Africa. The company is the owner of a former NRZ class 14A Garratt, also carrying the number 512.

During Geoff’s Trains’ visit to the Botswana mine this past winter, ex-South African class 19D no 2689 (Borsig-built) was seen in service. It is LO812 in the company’s motive power ﬂeet numbering (see photo). A further 19D from South Africa, reportedly 1938 Skoda-built no 2626, is earmarked to become LO813.

A new sight at Victoria Falls – a biodiesel-driven tram. Photo: John Batwell collection.

Bamangwato Concessions’ additional class 19D 4-8-2 loco no LO812 in service. Photo: John Batwell collection.

The Victoria Falls company’s other “No. 512” – a class 14A Garratt seen in steam in October 2012. Photo: G Cooke.

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Issue 5 // 2012 Railways Africa

BOOK REVIEW

GARRATTS & KALAHARIS OF THE WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY BY DAVID PAYLING Just published, this fascinating book recounts the history of each of the eight ex-South African class NGG16 Garratts and 2-8-2 “Kalahari” NG15 locomotives, currently at the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) in Wales. It includes an account of footplate working on the Garratts, and deals with ongoing efforts by the WHRS Group to restore and return one of the two NG15 engines to service.

Profusely illustrated, the book draws on photographic collections showing the locomotives in action both on their original stamping grounds in South Africa as well as the more recent activity in North Wales. With railway modellers in mind, fold-out scale drawings of the locomotives have been included, even covering special features carried only on the ﬁrst batch of NG15s in 1931.

Little has been written about the design origins of these locomotives, built in Britain and Europe for service in South Africa. The book draws on extensive research undertaken at Boston Lodge since the mid-1990s in making these engines ready for the intensive services planned on the WHR. The origins of their design is recorded and their development traced from early beginnings. The story is brought up to date with coverage of the individual engines now in North Wales.

The author, a life-long volunteer and part of the team at Boston Lodge in North Wales, worked over the last 15 years assembling the drawings and information needed for restoring the locomotives. The book was produced to support the restoration of NG 15 no134. GARRATTS and KALAHARIS of the WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY by David Payling is published by the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, Harbour Station, Porthmadog, LL49 9NF, UK. 132pp, 100+ colour and b/w illustrations, hardback, 282mm x 215mm, £25.00. ISBN 978 0 901848 10 9 www.festshop.co.uk

NG/G16 #143 at Beddgelert on 4 September 2012. Photos: Michael Martin.

Railways Africa Issue 5 // 2012

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