SA's R600 million train blunder

[Steve Hayes]

SA's R600 million train blunder
2015-07-05 07:27

Pieter-Louis Myburgh, Netwerk24

Johannesburg - South African railways officials imported brand new
locomotives from Europe worth hundreds of millions of rand despite
explicit warnings that the trains are not suited for local rail lines.

In what may be the country's largest and most expensive recent tender
blunder the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has to date
received thirteen new diesel locomotives that are too high for the
long distance routes they were intended for.

Senior railways engineers and sources with firsthand knowledge of the
issue told Rapport Prasa had been warned that the new diesel
locomotives it ordered from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh España are
too tall for local use.

The locomotives exceed the height restrictions for diesel locomotives
on the long distance lines Prasa intended using them on.

R3.5bn order

The thirteen Afro 4000 diesel locomotives that have so far been
delivered to Prasa are worth R600 million and form part of a larger
R3.5 billion order for 70 new locomotives.

The locomotives have a roof height of 4 264mm while the maximum height
for diesel locomotives may not exceed 3 965mm, senior rail engineers
with firsthand knowledge of the saga told Rapport.

Prasa intended using the locomotives for its long distance Shosholoza
Meyl passenger service.

The locomotives were revealed to the media at an event in Cape Town in
January, where Prasa and transport minister Dipuo Peters stated the
locomotives would undergo three months' testing before entering
operations in April.

"Prasa was warned the locomotives were too high even before they
started arriving in the country. They carried on with the contract
despite our warnings," said a senior Transnet engineer.

Another Transnet engineer said Transnet initially didn't want Prasa to
move the locomotives even on the short track distance between the Cape
Town docks and the nearby Salt River train depot.

The engineers say the locomotives could damage the overhead electrical
cables on the country's rail lines.

Tender regulations flouted

The auditor general last year announced Prasa had flouted its own
tender regulations when it awarded the contract to Swifambo Rail
Leasing.

The South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) confirmed
it was aware of the height issue and that it was working on finding
"technical solutions".

Transnet and Prasa "engage on a frequent basis on any matter that
affects us in whatsoever way through the designated channels and
forums established between the two companies," said Transnet Freight
Rail spokesperson Sandile Simelane.

"Transnet Freight Rail is therefore not at liberty to engage Prasa
through the media," he added.

Moffet Mofokeng, Prasa's spokesperson, did not respond to the
newspaper's queries beyond stating in an e-mail that "you are at
liberty to write what you want".

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/SAs-R600-million-train-blunder-20150704




--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

[Ulf Kutzner]

The Traxtion company bought the locos in an auction at about
a fifth of the original price, and now uses them in freight operation
between Mozambique (brand new [part of?] port in Maputo) and Zimbabwe,
operaged by Unitrans Africa.


Regards, ULF