Despite the economic downturn, international demand for South African coal and iron-ore remains strong and is set to grow rapidly in the coming years. Keith Barrow looks at how Transnet is meeting the need for more capacity on its heavy-haul lines.

SOUTH Africa's Department of Transport has established a steering committee to oversee the development of the country's four proposed high-speed lines, together with an investor unit which will market the public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

UGANDA's minister for public works, Mr John Byabagambi, says negotiations are in progress with China for a joint project to rehabilitate the country's 1240km metre-gauge network.

THE states of Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger and Benin have agreed to study a plan to build a new line at least 900km long to connect the existing metre-gauge railways in Burkina Faso and Benin. A roadmap will be drawn up soon to secure funding with a view to starting construction in 2014.

RZD president Mr Vladimir Yakunin says RZD is hopeful of resuming work on the $US 3bn project in Libya having already lost an estimated $US 647m since the project was suspended.

SOUTH Africa's government has agreed to inject Rand 137bn ($US 19.96bn) in Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa's (Prasa) rolling stock and infrastructure investment programme.