http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/01/04/bc.y2k.mali.reut/index.html

Computer problem hits Mali's railway

January 4, 2000 Web posted at: 11:48 AM EST (1648 GMT)

BAMAKO,Mali (Reuters) -- The monitoring of Mali's railway system has been disrupted by computer problems but no other difficulty linked to the millennium bug has been reported in the West African country, the government said on Tuesday.

"The computer system that controls the monitoring of goods wagons at the railway seized up and since then it has not been possible to do the monitoring properly," said Moctar Diarra, head of information technology at the government's statistics and information technology department (DNSI).

The railway transports goods and passengers between Mali's capital, Bamako, and Dakar, Senegal's capital on the Atlantic coast.

The national telephone company, banks and air transport facilities were working normally, officials said.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), January 04, 2000

Answers

THIS is the kind of stuff I'm worried about. JIT systems as in inventory, production and delivery, billing, invoicing and tracking.

I live fairly close to a fairly major route and typically hear train whistles late in the evening, nightly. I hadn't heard any since the rollover. Last night I heard one for the first time, however, it seemed to be standing in place...as in not moving...and the whistle blew every few minutes for nearly an hour.

If there are switching and gate problems this may be why. I have no information that we've gone manual and I'd love some inside info if anyone can help.

Mike

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-- Mike Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), January 04, 2000.

No problems with freight trains in California. Maybe the track I live near is the only one working, since no one else is hearing trains but I've been hearing 'em non-stop? They all came to California!!!! :-)

-- Hope Full (notareal@address.com), January 04, 2000.