Financial loss of train coaches totals more than R600m since April 2018

13th March 2019 By: News24Wire

The total financial loss of train coaches from April 2018 due to aging stock, vandalism, theft and derailment amounted to more than R630-million, Transport Minister Blade Nzimande said.

In a written reply to a question from DA MP Manny de Freitas, Nzimande shared how many train coaches of Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl were lost and the value of the losses since April 1.

A total of 127 Metrorail coaches were lost due to vandalism, including theft. A total of 262 coaches were lost due to derailments and accidents, and 550 were lost due to theft. The value of the losses amounted to more than R624-million, the reply read.

A total of 613 Shosholoza Meyl coaches were lost due to ageing.

A total of five locomotives and 24 coaches were lost due to vandalism, including theft, while a total of nine coaches were lost due to derailments and accidents, Nzimande said. The value of the losses amounted to over R11.6-million, according to the reply.

MAINTENANCE COSTS
The total cost of maintenance for existing coaches came to R725.7-million. The total cost of a general overhaul of coaches came to R1.5-billion.

Specifically for Metrorail, the cost of maintenance of existing train coaches totaled R452-million. The general overhaul of existing coaches amounted to R1.1-billion. During the period six new car trains were purchased from Gibela for a total of R220-million, the reply read.

The cost of maintenance of existing train coaches of Shosholoza Meyl amounted to R237.7-million. The general overhaul of existing coaches amounted to R390.7-million.