In support of Transport month, the Rail Road Association (RRA) of South Africa will host an inaugural career expo day this month for all rail industry players to meet learners and youth to expose them to the opportunities in the industry.

According to RRA officials Trevor Mohlala and Mesela Nhlapo, “the rail industry in South Africa has significant potential for growth and plays a major role in the growth of our economy”. With this understanding, the RRA believes it is “exceedingly important” for young South Africans to know and understand the opportunities ahead, they say.

The career day will be hosted on October 25, at the Transnet School of Rail, in Esselen Park, Gauteng.

Partners of the expo include State-owned freight logistics company Transnet, the Rail Safety Regulator of South Africa, the Department of Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry. Event focus points will include exhibitors addressing learners about career and bursary opportunities in their respective organisations, while other highlights will include exposure to processes such as train simulation and track welding.

Mohlala and Nhlapo further suggest that, owing to the misconception that the rail industry comprises only train operations, the youth must be made aware of the different aspects that contribute or relate to the rail sector. These include the manufacturing sector, information technology in terms of operations management, as well as the rail maintenance and supply chain.

With government having invested substantially in local rail projects, the RRA believes it can also play a role in preparing the next generation of rail experts.

Investments and projects in the local rail industry include the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s rolling stock acquisition programme, which involves the acquisition of 7 224 new rail vehicles that will be rolled out in two ten-year phases, as well as Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR’s) locomotives acquisition programme that entails the acquisition of 599 electric and 465 diesel locomotives for the division’s General Freight Business unit by 2018.

TFR is also expanding its coal export line. “The programme combines investments in new infrastructure and rolling stock, most notably a comprehensive dual-voltage locomotive acquisition programme,” Creamer Media’s Africa Research Channel reported last month.

Mohlala and Nhlapo further explain that, as “South Africa is ahead in the African continent regarding the space of rail”, the association is looking to a future where South Africa can further be the provider of the most needed skills on the continent.

They add that, the need for skills development as South Africa constantly works towards industrial development is highlighted when considering the primary original-equipment manufacturers in South Africa, which are mostly multinationals from other countries, with the exception of Transnet Engineering.

Mohlala and Nhlapo conclude that, therefore, the RRA is continuously working towards industry development and does not want to find it without the skillful people to feed into the industry when required.