Railways Africa Magazine

In this special episode of Coffee with the Editor, filmed at the Southern African Railways Association Conference and Exhibition, we sit down with Tresor Kapuku Ngoy, Deputy Director General of Société Nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC SA). In this insightful discussion, we explore the current state and future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) railways.

In this episode of Coffee with the Editor, filmed during the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Conference and Exhibition, we speak with Tunde Ayorinde from the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s property side. Tunde provides insights into the rapid growth of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, which now spans over 3,000 kilometres and operates both narrow and standard gauge lines. He highlights the expansion efforts, particularly with the new standard gauge lines like Lagos-Ibadan, Agbor-Itakpe, and Lagos-Kaduna.

In this episode of “Coffee with the Editor,” filmed during the Critical Materials Conference: FerroAlloys 2024 held in Johannesburg from 9th to 11th September, Railways Africa Magazine talks to, Kenneth Williams from the Makoya Group. The Makoya Group is a niche bulk-handling commodity advisory service for the mining industry, specialising in rail operations, private sidings, and bulk material loading. Kenneth shares insights on the company’s involvement in loading coal to key destinations such as Richards Bay, RBCT, and Maputo, while also discussing their diversification into chrome handling.

In this edition of Coffee with the Editor, our editor Phillippa Dean sits down with Howard Rosen, Chairman of the Rail Working Group, at the Southern African Railways Association’s (SARA) annual conference and exhibition. The discussion covers the latest developments around the Luxembourg Rail Protocol and its growing influence on rail asset management globally.

In this episode of Railways Africa Magazine’s “Coffee with the Editor,” our editor, Phillippa Dean, speaks with Anneri Robinson from Hatch at the South African Heavy Haul Association (SAHHA) conference about her paper, “Approach to Assessing the Condition of a Railway System,” co-authored with Nathan Wilson. Robinson talks about the challenges faced by railway operators, including asset decay and diminishing capacity, and outlines Hatch’s risk-based asset condition assessments. These assessments provide crucial insights into the remaining useful life of railway components, enabling clients to make informed decisions about maintaining and investing in their rail infrastructure.

In this episode of Coffee with the Editor, filmed at the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) annual conference and exhibition, Phillippa Dean engages with Kannan Ponnusamy, Head of Business Development at SMH Rail. They explore SMH Rail’s impactful projects across Africa, focusing on locomotive remanufacturing in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and new ventures in South Africa.

Join Railways Africa’s Editor, Phillippa Dean, in this Coffee with the Editor as she sits down with the Acting CEO of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), Mmuso Selaledi, to discuss the upcoming changes in South Africa’s rail safety landscape.

In this in-depth interview, Selaledi provides insights into the new Railways Safety Act awaiting presidential approval, the implications of open access on the rail network, and how the RSR is preparing for an expanded role in overseeing rail safety. Discover the challenges posed by recent network incidents, the RSR’s focus on interoperability, and the upcoming Annual Rail Safety Conference and Industry Rail Awards.

Learn about the RSR’s strategic initiatives to enhance rail safety, efficiency, and growth in South Africa’s evolving rail industry. Don’t miss this exclusive interview filled with key updates and industry developments!

In this Coffee with the Editor, Johny Smith, CEO of Grindrod Rail, shares insights into the company's strategy and plans in light of their recent interim results. Despite a challenging period, Grindrod Rail's performance has been commendable, showcasing the company's resilience and strategic focus. Smith highlights the critical role of rail in Grindrod’s broader logistics strategy and outlines the steps the company is taking to leverage rail as a key growth driver.

He also discusses Grindrod Rail’s expansion plans, including the repatriation and refurbishment of locomotives, investments in wagons and the establishment of strategic hubs in Southern and East Africa.

Find out more about how Grindrod Rail is positioning itself for success in the evolving rail market and what’s on the horizon as the company seeks to enhance rail logistics across the region. 

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In this Coffee with the Editor, we catch up with Bernard Peille just before his transition from Managing Director of Alstom Southern Africa to Alstom Brazil. Bernard discusses Alstom's involvement in the MetroKin project in Kinshasa, a key mass transit initiative aimed at addressing the city's severe congestion. Alstom is set to be part of the first phase of the project—connecting the central station to N'Djili International Airport, featuring eight stations along a 22-kilometre route as a metro solution.

Supported by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Trans Connexion Congo (TCC), MetroKin is poised to transform Kinshasa's public transportation landscape with over 300 kilometres of railway.

Bernard also shares insights on Alstom's broader vision for enhancing urban mobility across Africa, including ongoing projects in Dar es Salaam, Angola, and Harare, Zimbabwe, among others.

Watch the full interview to get all the details!

In this special edition of Coffee with the Editor, we catch up with Ms Nompumelelo Sibongile Ekeke, the Chairperson of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), at the SARA Conference and Exhibition held at the Sandton Convention Centre. Ms Ekeke discusses the exciting developments in rail safety, including the inaugural Rail Safety Awards celebrating 21 years of the RSR, the importance of harmonising safety standards across the SADC region, and the challenges and opportunities in open access for new operators. She also highlights the growing role of women in the rail sector and the critical issues surrounding safety and inclusivity in this male-dominated industry. Don’t miss this insightful discussion about the future of rail safety in Southern Africa.

Full Article: https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/railway-safety-regulator-chairperson-on-rail-milestones-upcoming-awards-and-industry-challenges