GHANA plans to rehabilitate the Dunkwa - Awaso branch line of the 340km 1067mm-gauge western main line that links Takoradi, Dunkwa and Kumasi.

IRJ at the UIC High-Speed Rail World Congress, Tokyo: MOROCCAN National Railways (ONCF) has confirmed that Africa's first high-speed line will open in spring 2018, two-and-a-half years later than originally scheduled.

TESTING is underway at Alstom's Lapa plant in Brazil on the first of 600 X'trapolis Mega commuter EMUs for Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), while preparations for the transfer of production to South Africa are also making progress.

ITALFERR, the engineering subsidiary of Italian State Railways (FS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Algeria's National Railway Investment Agency (Anesrif) on June 26 to create an engineering joint venture, which will support the modernisation and expansion of the country's railway network.

THE first TGV Duplex train for Morocco's inaugural high-speed line arrived in the country at the port of Tangiers on June 29.

IRJ at IHHA 2015, Perth, Australia: TRANSNET says it is close to completing a study on a new heavy-haul railway which would enable landlocked Botswana to export its vast coal reserves through the South African port of Richards Bay.

TANZANIA has introduced a 1.5% infrastructure development levy on imports to assist the government with raising $US 14.2bn to finance new rail projects and improve existing lines over the next five years.

EGYPT's Ministry of Transport has applied to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a €175m loan to help fund the acquisition of a fleet of trains for the Cairo metro.

THE fourth phase of Algiers' light rail network was inaugurated on June 14, when Algeria's transport minister Mr Boudjema Talai launched public services on the eastern extension of Line 1 from Kahouat Echergui to Dergana.