Summary：TRANSNET Freight Rail (TFR), the largest division of state-owned freight and logistics group Transnet, has taken d...

TRANSNET Freight Rail (TFR), the largest division of state-owned freight and logistics group Transnet, has taken delivery of the first two of 95 Class E dual electric locomotives designed and manufactured by China South Rail Electric Locomotive.

Transnet Freight Rail CEO Siyabonga Gama

The locomotives have come a month earlier than originally expected, the company said on Monday.

The delivery was a "phenomenal achievement" since it was accomplished in less than 12 months since sign-off, whereas the typical development for a new design usually takes "between 18 to 24 months to achieve", said TFR.

The R2.7bn order for the dual electric locomotives, which will be able to operate on both 3kV direct current and 25kV alternating current power sources, is part of a larger locomotive procurement programme TFR is undertaking to boost its capacity to 350-million tonnes a year, from 207-million tonnes a year. Under the contract, the first 10 locomotives will be built in China, with 85 scheduled for assembly in South Africa under an agreement to transfer industrial capability, said Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela.

Transnet Engineering was investing about R100m on a production line at its Koedoespoort plant to manufacture the new trains. More than 120 technicians had already completed training in China in preparation for the assembly of the vehicles in South Africa.

The new locomotives would now begin a three-month commissioning and testing phase before being introduced into TFR’s freight business.

TFR CEO Siyabonga Gama said the new locomotives would largely be used to service the haulage demand on Transnet’s manganese line. "They will boost the existing fleet on the line, so as to handle the projected increasing demand in manganese exports, as TFR expands capacity on the manganese line from 7-million tonnes to 16-million tonnes over the next six years."

A further four locomotives will be delivered from Zhouzhou in China next month. The last locomotive is expected to be completed at Koedoespoort "by the latest March 2015", Mr Sigonyela said.