Faster, lighter and eco-friendly train locomotives have been imported from Spain by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) as part of their R3.5-billion fleet renewal programme.Seventy locomotives have been imported, of which 20 run purely on diesel and 50 are hybrids running on both diesel and electricity.
Fifteen hybrids have already been distributed across the country, two of which are at the East London station.
The Afro4000s, which consist of six engines and double cabins, allow the driver to drive from either end without having to turn the train around.
The new machines are “best suited” for long-distance liners Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe, a luxury liner that only operates from Port Elizabeth in the province.
However, the trains will also be seen pulling local coaches.
Prasa’s executive manager for mainline passenger services Mthura Swartz said they would use the Afro4000s on regional routes and to reach other parts of the country.
“Now with the recent accident, we will be quick to use the new locomotives as we phase out the old. They should be running by the end of next month.
“We will also be reinstating our services on the King William’s Town and Alice route in this financial year.”
Swartz said the new locomotives could pull up to 50 coaches and cut costs by a third compared to locomotives in service.
“A trip to Johannesburg can take up to 20 hours, but with the Afro4000 we will be saving up to seven hours.
“They can travel at 180km/h which is double the speed of current locomotives, but the network and infrastructure does not allow for their maximum speed to be used.”
Swartz said the rail agency had a R5-billion contract with Gibela Rail Consortium to build more than 500 all-in-one trains with coaches like the Gautrain, over a 10-year period.
Eastern Cape Transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said: “The arrival of these locomotives coincides with our back to rail connecting our people campaign, which seeks to reposition rail as public transport mode of choice.
“This will definitely improve the transportation of people and goods in line with our provincial integrated public transport master plan.
“Through this initiative, we are attempting to decisively deal with the challenge of rapid decline in rail services to certain areas of our province and limited public transport service for the poorest sections of our population.”
Siphokazi Ngoqo, who commutes from East London to Berlin, said she often lost her patience with the travel time of the trains.
“It would be ideal to have a faster method of getting home.”
R3.5bn train project on track
Fifteen hybrids have already been distributed across the country, two of which are at the East London station.
The Afro4000s, which consist of six engines and double cabins, allow the driver to drive from either end without having to turn the train around.
The new machines are “best suited” for long-distance liners Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe, a luxury liner that only operates from Port Elizabeth in the province.
However, the trains will also be seen pulling local coaches.
Prasa’s executive manager for mainline passenger services Mthura Swartz said they would use the Afro4000s on regional routes and to reach other parts of the country.
“Now with the recent accident, we will be quick to use the new locomotives as we phase out the old. They should be running by the end of next month.
“We will also be reinstating our services on the King William’s Town and Alice route in this financial year.”
Swartz said the new locomotives could pull up to 50 coaches and cut costs by a third compared to locomotives in service.
“A trip to Johannesburg can take up to 20 hours, but with the Afro4000 we will be saving up to seven hours.
“They can travel at 180km/h which is double the speed of current locomotives, but the network and infrastructure does not allow for their maximum speed to be used.”
Swartz said the rail agency had a R5-billion contract with Gibela Rail Consortium to build more than 500 all-in-one trains with coaches like the Gautrain, over a 10-year period.
Eastern Cape Transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said: “The arrival of these locomotives coincides with our back to rail connecting our people campaign, which seeks to reposition rail as public transport mode of choice.
“This will definitely improve the transportation of people and goods in line with our provincial integrated public transport master plan.
“Through this initiative, we are attempting to decisively deal with the challenge of rapid decline in rail services to certain areas of our province and limited public transport service for the poorest sections of our population.”
Siphokazi Ngoqo, who commutes from East London to Berlin, said she often lost her patience with the travel time of the trains.
“It would be ideal to have a faster method of getting home.”
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