The country was one step closer to delivering a multimodal, multifacet, integrated, accessible and reliable transport system as the first of 70 Spain-manufactured AFRO 4000-series locomotives is tested for power and functionality.
Following the unveiling of the long-haul passenger locomotive in Cape Town last month, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) hosted Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, PRASA chairperson Dr Popo Molefe, PRASA CEO Lucky Montana and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on an AFRO4001 locomotive-hauled Premier Classe train trip to Stellenbosch on Monday.
The showcase by PRASA was meant to demonstrate the new locomotives’ resilience, strength, reliability and speed.
Peters on Monday said the rail renewal and modernisation would go a long way in dealing with the loss of faith in rail transport owing to unreliable and unsafe commuter rail transportation with high levels of overcrowding in trains and slow journey times.
“In fast-tracking the modernisation of public passenger rail transport, government is investing R172.3-billion over the next ten years towards capital projects that will transform passenger rail transport in our country,” she pointed out.
Directed by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee strategic integrated projects one through five, the construction of new large rail lines was already under way, with the procurement process for the new rolling stock programme already concluded.
Over R50-billion had been injected into the manufacture of 3 600 passenger coaches – equating to 600 trains – with another R3.5-billion set aside for the manufacture of high power, efficient, fast and reliable locomotives.