Morocco’s state-owned rail operator, ONCF, announced a significant $2.9 billion investment on Wednesday to purchase 168 trains from manufacturers in France, Spain, and South Korea. This move is part of ONCF’s broader efforts to expand the country’s rail network in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, as reported by Reuters. The contracts were awarded to French manufacturer Alstom, Spain’s Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Category: Railway News
Transnet Strengthens Leadership with Key Executive Appointments
Transnet has appointed Bessie Mabunda as Chief Executive of Transnet Engineering (TE) and Moshe Motlohi as Chief Executive of Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), effective March 1. These appointments aim to enhance strategic leadership, ensure stability, and strengthen the organization’s key operating divisions. TE, Transnet’s manufacturing division, provides research, design, manufacturing, and maintenance services for the global rail industry, with a strong focus on Africa. TRIM oversees South Africa’s rail
Traxtion Expands African Footprint with Lobito Atlantic Railway Partnership
South African railway company Traxtion has strengthened its presence in Africa by leasing G18U shunting locomotives from Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR). These locomotives will enhance freight operations at Lobito Port, a key transportation hub connecting Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This partnership aims to improve the efficiency of freight transport along this critical trade corridor. Previously, Traxtion and LAR agreed to lease U20C locomotives, essential for
Botswana to Boost Rail Network Investment for Economic Growth
The rail development is part of a broader proposed infrastructure budget of P11.54 billion (R15.4 billion). “Railway infrastructure is essential to industrial and logistical operations. It offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable transportation solution,” said Gaolathe. The total budget for rail projects amounts to P156 million, covering the rehabilitation of the Limpopo Corridor, the procurement of Botswana Railway Workshop equipment, and feasibility studies for the Mmamabula-Lephalale and Mosetse-Kazungula railways. Gaolathe
U.S. Aid Freeze Puts Africa’s Critical Minerals Corridor at Risk
A billion-dollar expansion of Africa’s most strategic U.S.-backed critical minerals project is now in limbo due to a foreign aid freeze under the Trump administration—creating an opening for China to expand its influence. At the center of the crisis is the Lobito Corridor railway project, a key infrastructure initiative designed to transport copper and cobalt from the Central African Copperbelt—home to some of the world’s richest deposits—to the Angolan coast
Zambia’s Lobito Corridor Project Key to Economic Growth and EV Battery Hub Development
Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Frank Tayali, has underscored the Lobito Corridor Project as a transformative initiative that will position Zambia as a leading hub for electric vehicle (EV) battery production and assembly. Speaking at the Lobito Corridor Stakeholder Discussion during the recent Mining Indaba in South Africa, Hon. Tayali reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging the project’s benefits through regulatory reforms in the EV industry. The Lobito
Tanzania and Burundi Sign $2.15 Billion Railway Deal to Boost Regional Connectivity
On January 29, 2025, Tanzania and Burundi signed an agreement to construct a 282-kilometer Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) linking Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi. The $2.15 billion project, awarded to China Railway Engineering Group Co. Ltd (CREGC) and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group Co. Ltd (CREDC), is set for completion within 72 months. The signing ceremony took place at the John Pombe Magufuli SGR station in
DP World and NSW Ports Invest A$400 Million to Expand Port Botany Rail Terminal
DP World and NSW Ports have announced a joint A$400 million investment to expand the rail terminal at Port Botany in Sydney, significantly increasing its annual rail capacity from 400,000 TEUs to 1 million TEUs. The expansion will include five new rail sidings designed to accommodate 600-meter-long regional trains. Construction is set to begin in June and will take two years to complete. Nicolaj Noes, Executive Vice President of DP
ANC Pushes for Debt-Relief Package to Revive Transnet
South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), plans to request the National Treasury to implement a one-off debt-relief package for state-owned rail and ports operator Transnet ahead of the February budget announcement. According to Zuko Godlimpi, Deputy Head of the ANC’s Economic Transformation Committee, Transnet requires support akin to the R254-billion debt-relief package granted to Eskom Holdings in 2023. Godlimpi emphasized that Transnet’s efficient operation is critical to
Zambia Pushes for Private Sector Role in Transforming the Lobito Corridor
The Zambian government has called for greater private sector participation in the Lobito Corridor to drive sustainable economic growth across the region. At the official opening of the Lobito Corridor Secretariat on Wednesday, Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, underscored the transformative potential of the corridor, which connects Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Secretariat, based on Lobito Island in Angola, will oversee the