Nkululeko Gobhozi has been named incoming Chairperson of the International Heavy Haul Association for the next two years.

Speaking to Railways Africa following the announcement at the IHHA Technical Workshop in Cape Town, Gobhozi outlines two priorities for his term: revitalising the association’s technical and operational best-practice publications and beginning a review of the standards used across the international heavy-haul sector.

Heavy-haul railways currently work across several regional and national standards covering rail, rolling stock, testing and other technical requirements. Gobhozi believes the IHHA can help align these systems by creating a recognised heavy-haul reference against which technologies and test results can be assessed.

Such an approach could reduce repeated testing and shorten the time required to introduce proven technologies into other heavy-haul markets. Local technical due diligence and supplier qualification would still be required.

The interview also examines the communications and signalling infrastructure needed to support South Africa’s changing railway operating environment. Gobhozi explains why electronic interlocking is an important short-term step towards reducing vulnerable physical infrastructure and creating a foundation for future train-control systems such as ETCS or PTC.

With additional train operating companies preparing to use the South African network, he says that the industry should adopt clearly communicated standards that allow multiple manufacturers to compete without prescribing a single supplier’s technology.

Watch the full interview for insight into Gobhozi’s IHHA priorities, the future of heavy-haul technical standards and South Africa’s phased signalling and communications strategy.