PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTERCONNECTION, INTEROPERABILITY OF AFRICAN RAILWAY SYSTEMS

JOHANNESBURG

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

20 NOVEMBER 2007

PRESENTATION LAYOUT

Who is SARA? The business case for interconnectivity &

interoperability Prerequisites for interconnectivity &

Interoperability Issues to consider Interconnectivity in SARA Interoperability in SARA Way forward

Who is SARA? The Southern African Railways Association is a

regional railway organisation comprising Railway companies in SADC member states Major railway suppliers & customers Other interested stakeholders (railway regulator)

SARA’s objectives are to promote railway interests in the region in terms of ; Lobbying for equity in transport policy Investment in railways Exchange of information and collaboration among

members in order to provide a cost effective seamless railway transport service.

Business case for interconnectivity & interoperability

To FACILITATE TRADE and REDUCE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS leading to overall gains in the standard of living.

Movement of people across borders Quicken the pace of economic

development by attracting investment and facilitating access to markets for the abundant resources on the continent.

Safety considerations

Prerequisites for interconnectivity & interoperability

Interconnectivity – infrastructure issue Brazzaville Declaration

Missing links – to be eliminated Gauge – to be uniform/standard Maintenance backlog – to be cleared/new

investment Other bottlenecks – to be removed Funding/investment - required Role of the State - active Role of the private sector - active

Interoperability

Operating equipment & policies Design standards Compatibility of operating equipment Maintenance programmes Joint skills development & standards Operating procedures Compatibility of national legislation Commercial issues

Issues to consider Infrastructure

Major traffic corridors & business volumes. Differences in network size and condition. Gauge differences –

Which one should adopted? What will happen to existing infrastructure? Funding Parallel network vs funding requirements and failure to

maintain existing infrastructure? What will happen to existing operating equipment?

Differences in national priorities. Level of implementation – national? Differences in access to funding/investment. Strong national balance sheet – widening of gap between

the poor & the rich? % of GDP?

Issues to consider cont’d

Operating equipment Sources Standards Current diversity Maintenance programmes Compatibility with infrastructure current

or new Investment requirements

Issues to consider cont’d

Policies and procedures Differences in legal framework Differences in operating procedures Language barrier Standardisation of human resource

development

Interoperability & interconnectivity in SARA

Network connected by similar gauge (Cape gauge, 1,067m).

Some missing links being eliminated Namibia building new line to link with Angola Angola rehabilitating lines destroyed during civil war Mozambique rehabilitating lines in the north affected

by the war. Swaziland – Western connection to Lothair (to

connect Mozambique & RSA). Zambia – to cater the boom in copper mining. Botswana – Trans-Kalahari & coal mines.

Maintenance standards not uniform Differences in signalling systems

Interoperability & interconnectivity in SARA cont’d

Cross-border operations possible Through working Safety regulator

Interchange of wagons possible Sources of equipment differ.

Locomotives wagons

Corridor Management Groups in place to facilitate movement of international traffic

Regional marketing policy in place

WAY FORWARD

STANDARDISATION

FUNDING

COOPERATION (national & railway levels).

INTEGRATION