ZAMBIA Railways Limited (ZRL) has appointed a new CEO and launched a three-year programme of reforms and rehabilitation with the aim of reversing the decline of one of southern Africa's largest railways.

PASSENGER Rail Authority of South Africa (Prasa) has awarded engineering company Gibb a Rand 63m ($US 7m) four-year contract to provide technical support and supervision services for the Durban area resignalling project.

KENYA's president, Mr Mwai Kibaki, officially opened a $US 4.7m 2.3km extension of the Nairobi – Embakasi line to Syokimau on November 14, which is said to be the first new station built in Kenya for 80 years.

TRANSNET officials were all smiles at the South African rail and logistics interim results presentation last week as revenue continues to rise on the back of increased rail shipments.

TANZANIA-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has signed a $US 42m agreement with the Chinese government that will enable Chinese companies to implement rehabilitation projects on the ailing railway.

TRANSNET signed a Rand 2.6bn ($US 298m) contract with CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, China, on October 22 for 95 dual-voltage electric locomotives, which are being ordered as part of a massive investment in railfreight capacity in South Africa.

SWAZILAND Railways, Transnet, and Mott MacDonald South Africa have formed a project team to advance plans for the Rand 15.9bn ($US 1.85m) Swazilink connection between Lothair in South Africa's Mpumalanga province and Sidvokodvo, Swaziland.

BRAZILIAN wagon manufacturer AmstedMaxion announced on October 18 it has signed a partnership agreement with Cometal, Mozambique, concerning the development of wagons for customers in southern Africa.

IRJ at the UIC Global Freight Conference in Tangier: The World Bank is putting the finishing touches to a new railway strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Henry des Longchamps, senior transport specialist with the World Bank's Africa Transport Unit, revealed today.

TANZANIA Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has entered negotiations with SMH Rail, Malaysia, over the rehabilitation of locomotives and wagons as part of an effort to ease the railway's chronic stock shortage.