Friday 29 November 2013
The only way to get to OR Tambo Airport if you are Able-bodied” 26 Nov 2013 moiraterwey Since the Gautrain started running, I have used this method of transport to get to Or Tambo from Fouways. It's quick and convenient and in my experience certainly quicker and less hazardous than the freeway road trip. The only difficulty is if you are NOT an able bodied passenger. There is no access for a luggage trolley between the 'ticket/turnstile' area onto the platform and this can be quite a walk. I recently had to fetched an elderly person from OR Tambo, with luggage, had no assistance and ended up having to call a friend to drive out to the airport as she couldn't manage the walk.
Kenya launched construction of a Chinese-funded $13.8 billion (10 billion euro) flagship railway project Thursday, hoping to dramatically increase trade and boost Kenya's position as a regional economic powerhouse. The key transport link, to run from the busy port city of Mombasa inland to the highland capital Nairobi, is eventually hoped to extend onwards to Uganda, and then connect with proposed lines to Rwanda and South Sudan.
Friday 22 November 2013
Many Nigerian airport runways lack airfield lighting, thus impairing safety, as aircraft cannot take off or land in the night, even in emergencies. Chinedu Eze writes that owing to this, Nigerian airports cannot be deemed to have met minimum standards
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Nigerian elected president of ICAO council
Friday 15 November 2013
In fact, when it comes to roads, ports and air transport infrastructure, South Africa actually scores better than China.
Thursday 14 November 2013
As part of the value chain offering by MBSA commercial vehicles, FleetBoard professional will offer product familiarisation and driver training. This will enable the drivers to get the most out of the technology, features and benefits.
Wednesday 13 November 2013
Tuesday 12 November 2013
“We first find out their driving styles and capabilities and once we have determined what their problems or weak areas are they do ‘corrective training’.
Sunday 10 November 2013
“In Nigeria, we are trying to establish a federal road authority that will be in charge of tolled roads and we want to learn from how they do their things, what they have done right and how they did it,” he said."
13th National Council on Transportation, which will be the highest advisory body on all transport related matters across the federation,slated for 11th to 15th of November 2013. The summit's theme is: "Transformation of Transport Infrastructure, Catalyst for Socio-Economic growth."
Saturday 9 November 2013
A fund that will support innovations that can reduce the logistics and transport costs within the East African region was yesterday launched in Dar es Salaam.
Friday 8 November 2013
Thursday 7 November 2013
High Intentions, Low Impacts - How Africa's Political Leaders Fail on Frontline Transport Delivery
I have recently concluded a peer-mentoring project with a senior official of a Lagos, Nigeria publicly-owned bus company. It was a very useful experience that allowed me to gain further insight into the challenges faced by operators of similar organisations across the continent.
The fundamental problem was that of instituitional design and governance framework and the negative impact of extreme political interference. The failure of sound institutional design manifested in the following ways:
1. The bus company was initially conceived as an Asset owning public corporation with powers to lease vehicles to bus franchisees, concession bus routes, and give overall purview of the bus network.
2. Due to the implementation of a metropolitan transport plan, another organisation was then empowered to pioneer a unique Bus Rapid Transit system along specified corridors under LagBus supervision. As a result of political trade-offs, Lagbus was required to supply part of its bus stock to the cooperatives set up to run services on the BRT route.
3. As a result of difficulties with the LagBus franchsing deals which were considered unsound by bus operators, many abandoned them and LagBus as franchisor was left with a swathe of buses. Hence, a decision was taken that LagBus should run the buses itself!
The situation now is that there is no actual bus network that LagBus operates because there is no defined route-scheduling and programmed management of services to meet demand and customer choice.
Additionally, the staffing structure is not adequate to meet the business needs.In fact, it was alarming to discover that there is no Mess Room or recreational facilities for the use of drivers and other staff at any of the depots! The fare system is poor and contributes to service unreliability and customer disatisfaction. Network control is almost non-existent. For example, there is no control room of any description and there is no reliable means of collecting and transmitting route/service information to those 'in control'.
The official took the initiative to seek world-class solutions to his organisation's problems. At the end of the 12 day consultation, the following are some of the actions he'll take forward:
1. Focus on 'deliverables' outside of high-level political permutations.
2. Focus on empowering frontline employees to drive value to the organisation.
3. Brand image is vital - what does the organisation stand for? The current motto 'Transportation Redefined' is meaningless and lacks emotional catchet.
4. Work to build a bus operating company that can be hived out of the Asset-owning parent.
5. Generate a stakeholder map - there are too many captains in the Lagos transport boat!
6. Keep things simple but efficient.
7. Collate data on operations and use your planners.
8. Get low-cost but useful IT for mobile and static monitoring.
9. Put a control room in place and get a network map!
10. Give the public visible value - Make all drivers First-Aiders!
I'm hopeful that some of these actions are achievable with some determination. We wait and see.