TAZARA: Resumption of cross-border passenger train operations between Tanzania and Zambia! [update #4]

update (16 August 2022): The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) posted on Facebook on 15 August 2022 that the repairs at the Chambeshi Bridge near completion. We'll keep you posted!

update (13 July 2022): The re-opening of the Chambeshi Bridge has been pushed back due to the delayed arrival of steel members from South Africa. The repairs will now be completed by 16 August 2022 and the testing and commissioning of the line by 19 August 2022.

update (10 June 2022):  TAZARA Regional Manager Kambani Ndhlovu: "We will not rush to commence full operations after completion of repair works on July 22 but will wait for a period of three to four weeks of testing to ensure that the bridge is perfect and later have it recommissioned." [src.]

update (07 June 2022): According to a recent update by Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) on Facebook, the full cross-border services will only resume sometime towards the end of July 2022, once the Chambeshi Railway Bridge is repaired. 

The Managing Director of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), Eng. Bruno Ching’andu, has announced that the Chambeshi Rail Bridge, which suffered major damages from a goods train accident in May 2021, will be ready for use again by the end of July 2022. TAZARA is planning to resume freight operations across the bridge on 22 July 2022 and to commence all passenger operations shortly thereafter, including cross-border passenger services between Tanzania and Zambia which were suspended in May 2020, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chambeshi Rail Bridge
© TAZARA

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is a bi-national railway, jointly owned by the Government of Tanzania and the Government of Zambia on an equal share-holding basis. The 1,860 km-rail runs from Tanzania and East Africa’s major seaport of Dar es Salaam into the heart of Zambia's Central Province, terminating at New Kapiri-Mposhi, where it is further linked by road and rail to Zambia's capital city, Lusaka (about 200 km), Zambia's mining nerve centre, the Copperbelt province (about 100 km) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

ACSA: King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban is experiencing water supply interruptions! [update]

update (11 May 2022): King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban is still experiencing water supply constraints. Water supply to the terminal building has been partially restored via tankers. Please note however water supply in the terminal building may be interrupted at short notice, as this will be dependent on the volume of water available for use. While this is an interim solution, and water will still be limited. The central air-conditioning system will remain shut down until further notice.

update (03 May 2022): King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban has partially restored the water supply to the terminal building via tankers. The water supply may be interrupted at short notice, as this will be dependent on the volume of water available for use. While this is an interim solution, and water is still limited, the central air-conditioning system remains shut down until further notice.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban is currently experiencing water supply interruptions due to flood damage. The airport's ablution facilities are open for use, but are having a limited supply of water. The cleaning turnaround times are also expected to take longer than usual.
Due to the water supply interruptions, the Central Airconditioning System Chillers have also been shut down. ACSA has deployed Air Handling Units, but these do not provide fresh air to the airport. We'll keep you posted!

ACSA: Jet fuel stock at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) is stable and meeting the current demand! [update]

update (28 April 2022): South African Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula has assured the aviation sector that there is adequate fuel at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and at all airports in South Africa.

According to a press release by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the supply of jet fuel to airlines flying in-and-out of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg is stable and continues to meet the demand of airlines. This in spite of disruptions to the transportation of the jet fuel-value chain as a result of many factors initially starting with the railway infrastructure damage caused by recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal.
It is estimated that Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), a state-controlled South African rail transport company, will only be able to repair the damaged railway infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal by 09 June 2022. ACSA, TFR and oil companies have therefore developed an interim plan to have sufficient jet fuel at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). The airport is currently operating on three to four days’ worth of stock which will be sustained over the next six weeks.

“This situation has created uncertainty amongst international airlines, but I want to assure our airline partners and passengers that there is adequate fuel at OR Tambo International Airport and all our airports. We are in continued engagements with oil suppliers to share stock. Some international airlines are in the process of confirming the availability of stock directly with their suppliers”, says Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Chief Executive Officer, Mpumi Mpofu.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is a partially state owned South African airport management company, which operates nine of South Africa's major airports including O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban.

South Africa: Seasonal rainfall & temperature outlook (April - August 2022)!

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has released the Seasonal Climate Watch for the period April 2022 to August 2022. According to the multi-model rainfall forecast, the north-east of South Africa is expected to experience above-normal rainfall and the south-west of the country below-normal rainfall during late autumn (April, May and June) through to early-winter (May, June, July). Temperatures are expected to be above-normal for most of South Africa, with the exception of minimum temperatures over the southern parts.

West Coast National Park: Geelbek Restaurant temporarily closed from 01 May 2022! [update]

update (03 August 2022): According to a posting by SANParks - West Coast National Park facebook page (issued by South African National Parks (SANParks) Communications), the Geelbek Resturant in the West Coast National Park is operational again.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the Geelbek Restaurant in West Coast National Park will be temporarily closed from 01 May 2022. The contract with with current operator expires on 30 April 2022. SANParks is in the process of appointing an interim operator which will be operational by the end of June 2022. The interim operator will run for 12 to 15 months until a new operator is appointed to allow for a smooth transition. We'll keep you posted!

Image Credit: facebook.com/WestCoastNP

Situated right on the picturesque Langebaan lagoon, the Geelbek Restaurant offers spectacular views of the West Coast National Park and the lagoon. It is surrounded with breathtaking natural vistas of flamingos and other birdlife, with a huge variety of game and wildlife. This Cape Dutch building is a National Monument and was renovated three times since it was first built in 1744.