In this “Coffee with the Editor,” James Holley, CEO of Traxtion, discusses the company’s ambitious expansion plans and strategic initiatives within the dynamic context of railway operations in South Africa and the broader African continent. James shares insights into the extensive refurbishment and modernisation of an additional 20 locomotives at the Rosslyn workshops, highlighting the process of weight reduction to facilitate broader deployment across various terrains and the implementation of modern control systems. He also provides an update on the rebuild of the last Afro4000 locomotive, set to re-enter service by mid-year.
With the fleet now expanded to 60 locomotives spread across eight African countries, James emphasises Traxtion’s commitment to operational efficiency. This includes enhancing maintenance processes and inventory management across their service locations. He highlights their digitalisation journey, which has significantly reduced paper usage and improved real-time data accessibility for decision-making. Additionally, plans are in place to expand the capacity at the Rosslyn workshops, including upgrading their parts stores and creating more space for locomotive refurbishment and repairs. This move is aimed at accommodating the growing demand for their services and enhancing operational capabilities.
James highlights the difficulties surrounding insuring rolling stock, noting some of the measures that have been put in place, such as the implementation of speed control, data loggers and digitised vigilance systems, to mitigate their operational risks.
Our conversation also covers the changing landscape of rail operations in Africa, with a focus on policy reforms, open access, and the role of private operators. James notes recent policy changes in several countries that are opening up the market for private rail operators, which is a significant shift towards improving regional trade and the efficiency of rail services.
A strong message came through that there is certainly a rail boom coming!
