South Africa’s Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) is set to allocate its first route slots to private train operating companies (TOCs) following the release of the long-awaited Network Statement in December. This move marks a significant step toward opening the country’s rail network to third-party operators. The Network Statement, which will be updated annually on April 1, introduces a differentiated access tariff regime with rates based on commodity types and
Category: Railway News
AfDB Partners with Deutsche Bank and Société Générale to Mobilize $1.2 Billion for Tanzania’s SGR Project
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a coordination agreement with Deutsche Bank and Société Générale to mobilize up to $1.2 billion for the construction of Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). This agreement was formalized during the African Investment Forum’s 2024 Market Days in Rabat, Morocco, as stated in an official AfDB release. The funds will support the development of a 411-kilometre railway line connecting Tabora and Kigoma in western
Freight Train Derailment in Lualaba, DRC, Leaves Five Dead and Dozens Injured
A freight train traveling from Tenke to Lubudi in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) derailed on Friday, December 13, at 10 p.m., resulting in at least five fatalities and around twenty injuries, according to a provisional report by the Nouvelle Société Civile Congolaise (NSCC) shared with Actualité.cd. The accident also caused significant material damage. The derailment occurred in Kansenia village, located 55 km from Lubudi,
AfDB Disburses $1 Billion to Transnet for Infrastructure Recovery
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has made an initial disbursement of $1 billion to South Africa’s state-owned logistics company, Transnet, marking a key step in enhancing the continent’s infrastructure. This loan is part of a four-tranche financing agreement approved in mid-2023, supporting Transnet’s ZAR 152.8 billion ($8.1 billion) five-year plan to upgrade critical infrastructure. The funds will address operational issues and strengthen South Africa’s logistics sector, vital to regional and
Lobito Corridor Investment Project Set to Boost Regional Trade and Economic Growth
The Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) forecasts substantial economic gains for Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the development of the ambitious Lobito Corridor Investment Project. The corridor is expected to revolutionize regional trade dynamics by boosting trade and investment in key industries such as manufacturing, mining, and agriculture by 20%, through simplified trade routes to international markets. ZACCI Chief Executive Officer Elvin
Biden’s Lobito Visit Highlights Strategic Push for Africa’s Mineral Corridor
In a landmark visit to Lobito, Angola, U.S. President Joe Biden met with African leaders to strengthen commercial ties and counter China’s growing influence on the continent. The focus of the summit was a transformative plan to develop the Lobito Corridor—a railway that will transport critical minerals from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to global markets. The United States has pledged a $550 million loan to rehabilitate
Biden Announces $600 Million in New Financing for African Railway Infrastructure
President Joe Biden is concluding his trip to Angola with a significant announcement of $600 million in new financing for a multi-country railway, a move aimed at boosting U.S. investment in critical minerals infrastructure across Africa and countering China’s growing influence on the continent. This latest announcement builds on the $553 million pledged earlier this year by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor, which
President Biden visits Lobito Atlantic Railway to view copper exports to the USA
Lobito, December 4, 2024 – The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, visited the Multipurpose Terminal at the Port of Lobito, Angola yesterday, where he watched the arrival of a train operated by the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), transporting copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The copper was then loaded onto a vessel bound for New Orleans, in the United States, highlighting, once again, the strategic role of the
Eswatini Railways: A Key Player in Southern Africa’s Transport and Logistics
Eswatini Railways (ESR) has been a vital part of the country’s transportation landscape for more than six decades. Despite operating in a small, landlocked market, ESR plays a critical role in regional trade, connecting South Africa and Mozambique with other Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations. With its focus on productivity and profitability, ESR is thriving, even as the country has set the retirement age at 60. The railways of
Tanzania and Zambia Pursue Private Investment to Modernize TAZARA Railway
With growing demand for freight transportation along the Southern Corridor, Tanzania and Zambia are actively seeking private investment to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA). The 1,860-kilometer railway, constructed in the 1970s with significant Chinese support, links Zambia’s Copperbelt region to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port. Over the years, TAZARA has become a critical trade and transport lifeline for neighboring countries, including Zimbabwe, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo