SOUTH AFRICA: The first of 95 electric freight locomotives ordered by Transnet was rolled out at CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive's factory in China on August 20. The initial two locomotives are scheduled to be shipped by the end of September, with eight months of testing planned.
The US$400m contract for the SA95NEL locomotives was signed in October 2012 and forms CSR's largest single export order for electric locomotives. The first 10 are to be produced in China, with the remaining 85 to be assembled in South Africa.
The 1 067 mm gauge four-axle 3·1 MW locomotives with AC traction equipment will be able to work under both 25 kV 50 Hz and 3 kV DC power supplies. They will have a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and will be equipped with low-speed controls for use during train loading and unloading.
- Transnet has issued a R1·5bn five-year bond under its programme to use the local debt capital markets as the primary source of funds for investment in its rail, port and pipeline infrastructure.
