Major milestone for TFR’s electric locomotive fleet

The completion of the first batch of electric locomotives produced at Transnet’s manufacturing and engineering facility in Koedoespoort, Pretoria was celebrated with fanfare yesterday when President Jacob Zuma and hundreds of guests witnessed the last locomotive’s maiden drive out of Transnet Engineering’s production line.

It was one of 95 electric locomotives bought by Transnet from China South Rail (CSR) and built in Koedoespoort in an agreement concluded in 2012. The production programme was completed in a record 12 months.

In terms of the agreement, 85 of the locomotives were built in Transnet’s engineering and manufacturing facilities in Koedeospoort. Only 10 were built at CSR’s manufacturing facilities in China.

The acquisition is part of Transnet's long-term fleet renewal programme, which is at the heart of the Market Demand Strategy (MDS), aimed at increasing volumes while reducing the average age of its locomotive fleet. The programme is designed to reinforce Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR) plans to grow its freight volumes from the current 210 million tons to over 350 million tons in seven years.

TFR has taken 85 of the locomotives into service on the manganese line to Port Elizabeth and the iron ore line between Sishen and ArcelorMittal’s plants in Newcastle and Biljkor.