Sabinet | Verhoging van die dravermoë van die steenkoollyn na Richardsbaai : beplanningsaspekte
oa Civil Engineer in South Africa - Verhoging van die dravermoë van die steenkoollyn na Richardsbaai : beplanningsaspekte
Author M.M.C. Crous (Tienie)
Source : Civil Engineer in South Africa, Volume 27, Issue 3, Mar 1985, p. 97 - 104
Die nuwe spoorlyn wat in die sestigerjare tussen Vryheid en Empangeni beplan is om vir die oorlaaide Natalse Hooflyn verligting te bring, het voor sy voltooiing &apos;n nuwe rol bygekry. Dit sou ook, saam met &apos;n nuwe verbindingslyn tussen Broodsnyersplaas en Ermelo en &apos;n uitloper na Richardsbaai, &apos;n spoorskakel vorm tussen die hoëveldse steenkoolafsettings en die nuwe hawe wat in aanbou was.
Die aanvanklike kontrakte tussen die Transvaal Coal Owners Association (TCOA) en Japannese staalfabrieke was vir 2,7 Mt/a steenkool. Die energiekrisis van 1973 het &apos;n ongekende wêreldvraag na steenkool vir kragopwekking meegebring en verwagtings vir uitvoere uit die RSA het vinning toegeneem. SA Vewoerdienste het op versoek onderneem om kapasiteit vir 12 Mt/a gereed te hê teen die openingsdatum van die hawe op 1 April 1976.
Regeringsgoedkeuring vir steenkooluitvoere is trapsgewys verhoog. In 1978 is dit op 44 Mt/a vasgepen maar in 1981 is dit verder verhoog tot 80 Mt/a. Bykomende kapasiteit moes beplan word vir die spoorlyn en die hawe. SA Vervoerdienste het die beplanning van die verhoging in dravermë van sy bates aangepas by veranderende omstandighede. Herbeplanning was nodig vir verbeterings wat nog nie begin is nie asook wat alreeds in aanbou was.
Hierdie verhandeling beskryf hoe hiermee te werk gegaan is.
The new railway line between Vryheid and Empangeni, planned during the sixties to bring relief to the overloaded Natal Main Line, assumed a new role before completion. Together with a new rail link between Broodsnyersplaas and Ermelo and a spur to Richards Bay, it would also form a link between the coal fields of the highveld and the new harbour under construction.
TCOA obtained a contract with Japanese steel mills for 2,7 Mt/a coal. The energy crisis of 1973 triggered an unheard-of demand for steam coal. Expectations for coal exports from the RSA soared. On request, SA Transport Services undertook to have capacity available for 12 Mt/a on 1 April 1976, the opening day of the harbour.
Government authorization for coal exports increased. The limit set at 44 Mt/a in 1978 was raised to 80 Mt/a in 1981. Additional capacity had to be planned for the railway line and the harbour.
SA Transport Services adapted the planning for the increase in carrying capacity of its assets to suit changing circumstances. Replanning was necessary for improvements which had not started and which were under construction. This paper describes how this was done.
Persistent Link : http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC24989