THE Gautrain was billed as one of the most reliable modes of public transport in South Africa's Gauteng province when it began operating services in June 2010. However, the service is falling well short of its projected daily ridership figures of 100,000 passenger journeys per day.

SUDANESE Railway Corporation (SRC) is reportedly in negotiations with Ukraine, Korea, and China as it prepares to issue a tender in the next few months for 10 locomotives as well as track materials to rehabilitate about 1000km of railway. The project could be worth up to $US 500m in its initial stages.

THE Zimbabwe government says it is negotiating a build, operate, transfer (BOT) deal with an unidentified South African company to rehabilitate the rail network at an estimated cost of $US 340m.

THE Mauritian Ministry of Public Infrastructure has invited expressions of interest for a design-build-operate-maintain PPP concession for the planned light rail line between the island's capital Port Louis and Curepipe.

CAPE TOWN-based rolling stock refurbishment company Commuter Transport Engineering (CTE) has embarked on a major expansion of its rail activities with the acquisition of Union Carriage & Wagon (UCW) from Murray & Roberts, South Africa, for an undisclosed sum.

Casablanca's inaugural light rail line, which began operations on December 12 2012, is already transforming public transport in Morocco's largest city, as Kevin Smith discovers.

In their rush to extract western Africa's vast mineral wealth, mining companies are revitalising existing, and building new, heavy-haul rail lines. Paul Ash presents a comprehensive round-up of the latest activities in the region.

EGYPT's National Authority for Tunnels has placed a $US 360m contract with Hyundai Rotem, Korea, for 20 nine-car trains.

KING Mohammed VI of Morocco today inaugurated Casablanca's first light rail line. The 31km line links Casablanca's eastern and southwestern suburbs with the city centre and has 48 stations.