The next three years will see an influx of new long-haul passenger locomotives enter service in South Africa after the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) unveiled Africa’s first 4000-series diesel locomotive at Cape Town Station.
The first AFRO 4000 locomotive, manufactured by Spain-based Vossloh, would undergo three months of testing before starting operations in March next year.
Another set of locomotives would make their debut in January, signaling further momentum in PRASA’s strategy of replacing its ageing locomotives fleet, which had been deteriorating owing to underinvestment, old technology, loss of critical skills and deferred maintenance. Dual-diesel-hybrid versions of the locomotives would be introduced in the latter half of 2015. Of the 70 units, 20 would be the 4000-series diesel locomotives.
Photo: http://www.vossloh-espana.com
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