Step by step expansion programme spelt out
LEONARD NEILL
SPOORNET IS going all out to return to working order the 14 000 wagons and 450 locomotives which are currently out of service.
The rail utility has made this clear in the face of continued criticism from various sources regarding its short supply of rolling stock.
It has dedicated R700million a year to its locomotive refurbishment efforts and R450million a year to wagon upgrading.
Most wagons are being refurbished in what is termed a’ final traffic mix’. This involves taking low capacity wagons and increasing their capacity and configuration in line with the requirements of specific profitable services.
It expects to be in a position to return to service some 200 locomotives in the first half of this year. This includes electrical and diesel locomotives. Transwerk, Transnet’s heavy maintenance and repair sector, is working on an upgrade programme projected to return to service 60 locomotives annually.
At the same time Spoornet is hoping to complete its funding plan for the upgrading and recapitalisation of rolling stock and infrastructure within the next few months.
This will enable it to launch officially its previously-announced 15-year programme which integrates all upgrades along with the purchase of new equipment.
Spoornet has attracted criticism for its current service delivery from a variety of business sectors recently, mainly in the mining, chemicals and agricultural fields.
In its annual report, cement company PPC states ‘Spoornet’s performance remains a concern with some plants running critically low on coal stocks at times.’ Other organisations have claimed that Spoornet has focused on its profitable coal and ore lines at the expense of major concerns which have, more often than not, been forced to switch to the costlier road transport mode to meet consumer demands.
In reply, the rail utility has stated that it plans to position the railways to raise overall capacity from 179million tons to R234million tons within five years, mainly through its upgrade programme.
