TENDERS will be invited later this year by South Africa's Department of Transport to conduct a study into the likely cost and feasibility of building high-speed lines between the country's main cities.

TRANSNET Engineering, South Africa, is developing a prototype 1067mm-gauge shunting and short trip diesel locomotive designed for African operators, which it hopes will boost locomotive sales outside the domestic market.

TRANSNET Freight Rail, South Africa, is set to sign an agreement with Botswana in the next month to enable it carry the country's first coal exports on the line from Morupule Colliery near Palapye to Durban.

THE China Development Bank has agreed to lend Transnet, South Africa, approximately $US 5bn to support its planned railway infrastructure rehabilitation programme which is worth over Rand 300bn ($US 33.82bn) over the next seven years.

PASSENGER Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has awarded a Bombardier-led consortium a Rand 1.1bn ($US 122m) contract to carry out resignalling of MetroRail KwaZulu Natal commuter lines in the Durban area.

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.

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.

THE Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has awarded a Rand 51bn ($US 5.7bn) contract to the Gibela Rail Transport consortium led by Alstom to supply 3600 commuter rail emu cars.

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.

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.