Lourens vanWyk

A driven qualified engineer with experience in railway asset- and project management and with extensive experience on senior management level within a large and diverse environment. I have a proven track record of successfully managing a large, multi-disciplinary department on one of the most prominent heavy haul freight transport railway lines in South Africa. My strengths lie in strategy, leadership and my advanced technical knowledge of engineering. Previous experience within a consulting engineering environment contributed to my in-depth understanding of engineering design and projects management.

Depot Engineering Manager
Transnet Freight Rail, Iron Ore Line, Saldanha Depot
• Responsible for managing all infrastructure on the Sishen-Saldanha heavy haul 
line including Perway, Electrical, Signalling, Telecommunications and Technical 
Support as well as all supporting functions.
• Effectively reduced annual operational expenditure with 11% by developing and 
implementing improved business processes aimed at increasing annual EBITDA 
whilst ensuring annual capital expenditure targets are maintained in order to 
guarantee resilient and sustainable infrastructure. 
• Developed integrated business strategies aimed at improving the performance 
of the infrastructure department as well as the profitability of the Sishen-Saldanha 
heavy haul line.
• Improved infrastructure reliability by ensuring comprehensive maintenance
strategies, rapid emergency fault repair and implementing a range of asset 
management principles which lead to improved performance.
Aug 2018 – to date

Acting Depot Engineering Manager
Transnet Freight Rail, Iron Ore Line, Saldanha Depot
• Responsibilities and achievements continued to Depot Engineer (see above)
Mar 2018 – Jul 2018

Maintenance Manager (Perway)
Transnet Freight Rail, Iron Ore Line, Saldanha Depot 
• Responsible for managing all infrastructure of the Perway Department on the 
Sishen-Saldanha heavy haul line including rails, fastenings, sleepers, ballast, sub-
structure, bridges and tunnels.
• Achieved significant improvements in departmental safety ratings in the 2017-18
financial year by ensuring compliance to safety standards.
• Improved the performance of track infrastructure by ensuring compliance to 
maintenance standards and improvements of current maintenance efforts.
Dec 2017 – Feb 2018

Acting Maintenance Manager (Perway)
Transnet Freight Rail, Iron Ore Line, Saldanha Depot 
• Responsibilities and achievements continued to Maintenance Manager Perway 
(see above)
Aug 2016 – Nov 2017

Civil Engineer
Transnet Freight Rail, Iron Ore Line, Saldanha Depot
• Responsible for technical analysis of asset performance, asset condition 
assessments, development of improved maintenance strategies and analysis of 
all chronic faults.
• Successfully managed various infrastructure expansion projects.
Mar 2015 – Jul 2016

Civil Engineer
Delta Built Environment Consultants
• Design engineer focussing mainly on storm water systems, pipelines and 
wastewater treatment facilities.
• Managing projects to ensure projects are completed within the desired timelines 
and budget.
Jan 2014 – Feb 2015

Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
Henley Business School
In Progress (expected to complete in September 2022)

Bachelors in Civil Engineering
University of Pretoria
2014

Railway Asset Management Course
University of Pretoria
2016

Management of Continuously Welded Rails Course
University of Pretoria
2016

Introduction to Multi-Disciplinary Concepts in Railway Engineering Course
University of Pretoria
2015

Business Communication Course
School of Rail
2015

Contractor Safety Management Course
School of Rail
2015