Cape Town - Faster and modernised locomotives aimed at improving long-haul passenger rail were received by transport authorities on Wednesday after their arrival from Spain.
The four locomotives are the second batch of AFRO 4 000 diesel series logotypes to arrive in the country; the first arrived last year.
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters was accompanied by Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) chairman Dr Popo Molefe and provincial transport MEC Donald Grant at Table Bay harbour.
Molefe said a reduction of travel time on long-distance passenger rail services would immediately be seen with the improved locomotives.
“Over time we’ve had to deal with high levels of frustrations from people who use our trains, because of slow journey times and overcrowding, resulting in passengers losing faith in rail as a mode of choice.”
He said 70 locomotives were being manufactured in Spain, and Prasa would have the first batch of 20 in the next six months.
Peters said the government was committed to reversing decades of underinvestment in railway infrastructure which contributed to poor levels of reliability and predictability.
“In fast-tracking the modernisation of public passenger transport to rail, this government is investing R172.3 billion in the next 10 years from which R3.5bn has gone into the manufacture of 70 locomotives and R51bn towards the manufacture of 600 new trains for Metrorail.”
She said the locomotives still had to be tested before actual operation would begin.
“When we tested the first locomotive there were indications that it has the capacity for short and long-haul journeys.”
She added that around 19 000 engineers needed to be trained in the next 10 years.
“We are conscious of the fact that we can’t provide opportunities and then people don’t have the skills.
“There simply aren’t enough electrical and civil engineers.”
Cape Argus