Transnet orders $230m worth of trains

6 April 2011

An additional 32 trains, worth $230 million (£141 million), are due to be purchased as part of an agreement between South African state logistics company Transnet and Venus Railway Solutions.

The type 15E locomotives are to be used on Transnet Freight Rail's line which runs between the mines in Sishen and the port at Saldanha.

Production of the trains will begin in December 2011, with the first unit ready for delivery by May 2012 and the last to be built by August 2013.

Transnet's chief executive officer, Brian Molefe said that investment would offer a number of transport benefits to the company's fleet.

This included protecting, developing and creating employment opportunities within South Africa.

"As we progressively implement Transnet's fleet renewal strategy to augment our fleet throughout the business, we expect service levels to our customers, including safety, to improve significantly," said Mr Molefe.

Elsewhere, the purchase of $14 billion worth of new stock for Metrorail has been described as a "significant milestone" in passenger rail transport in South Africa.

Category: Transport