International Railroad Discussion > African diesel engines.

http://www.locomotivesforafrica.com/rolling-stock-shipped-to-africa.html

 

On my last Rovos Raili trip in 2011, Rohan was leasing a diesel for the Dar trip. Assume this purchase is to eliminate that need. Previously, electrics were purchased to replace the need for unreliable Transnet electric availability.

The above link is obsolete, an old site

Importation of second hand locos into SA requires a permit

Rovos obtained a permit for six units which was granted in mid 2014. In Q4 2014 a ban on issuing further loco import permits to the corporate sector was implemented

Locos from the "Fairlift" shipment which departed Perth, West Australia on 10 January 2015 were caught up in the ban. The six for Rovos were OK, the remaining 17 units were admitted on license, to be either scrapped, or re-exported following rebuild. Only 2 units have been re-exported to date. These locos cannot be sold in SA

Apex Industrial (owner of the above site) currently have 5 locos sitting in a freight forwarders yard in Brisbane (Australia), these may eventually head to a port north of SA

The SA private operators (Grindrod/Sheltam/AR&TS) have basically killed Transnet's loco lease/hire business north of the border, and are poaching Transnet's freight customers in Zambia. With the TAZARA now open access, Grindrod is positioned to divert freight traditionally Transnets (through the port of Durban), to Dar es Salaam. Grindrod has commenced building a BOT to connect the Zambian Copper Belt to the Benguela in eastern Angola (opening up access to Lobito and for Angolan refined petroleum). Zimbabwe Railways are technically bankrupt, with wages over 12 months in arrears. Zimbabwe critical freight (like coal for electricity generation) is kept moving by AR&TS (currently with 10 ex Australian locos). Grindrod own/operate the BOT from Beitbridge to Bulawayo, with running rights through to Victoria Falls, utilising around 16 locos, of which 6 are new build. The arrival of 38 new Chinese built locomotives in the DRC, has led SNCC to dehire around 22 units from Grindrod and Sheltam, Vale in Mozambique has recently dehired Grindrod locos, so there is a surplus of motive power in southern Africa.

Transnet's freight volume is down by 18% for calendar 2015. Transnet is negotiating with CRRC, GE, and Bombardier to wind out the delivery window for the 1064 locos they currently have on order. These locos are financed with borrowings on the international capital market, Transnet would like to spread out delivery to at least 2022. The Rand has depreciated over 20% in the last 18 months, so Transnet's cost for servicing their loans have increased. New rail construction (like the additional link through Swaziland) has ceased, and all construction projects are on hold

This article poorly written, several factual errors http://www.rovos.com/blog/diesellocomotives/
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/16 15:51 by jmt.