Bombardier TRAXX locomotives complete 10 million kilometres service in South Africa

Credit: Bombardier Transportation

Bombardier Transportation’s TRAXX fleet in South Africa has completed 10 million kilometres in service since beginning operation in December 2017.

The locomotives are being used to transport freight on South Africa’s long routes between its mines and ports. Each locomotive has made around 1,600 round trips of 2,200km and moved over 10 million tonnes of freight since beginning service.

Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) awarded Bombardier the contract to supply 240 electric locomotives in March 2014. Since then, Bombardier has been delivering the TRAXX Africa locomotives as part of South Africa’s rail modernisation plan.

The localised manufacturing is contributing towards skills development in the country and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) programmes. From the very first unit, the new freight locomotives have been assembled in South Africa. With more than 60 per cent of the total contract value on local content achieved and around 300 direct and 1,800 indirect local jobs created, Bombardier has fully integrated into South Africa’s fabric.

“This achievement is thanks to the close partnerships between Bombardier, Transnet Freight Rail, Transnet Engineering and more than 200 local suppliers who are supporting us in the delivery of these modern electric locomotives,” said Makgola Makololo, Managing Director South Africa at Bombardier Transportation.

“We are proud to see our locomotives forming the backbone of the regional freight movement in South Africa and Bombardier is fully committed to this country through our local manufacturing capability, strong local supply chain and job creation that comes with each TRAXX Africa locomotive manufactured here.”

The TRAXX Africa locomotives have been operating at an availability rate of 98 per cent compared to 95 per cent contractual requirement and one failure per million kilometres compared to the target of 15 based on the contract requirements. Bombardier is a B-BBEE level 2 certified company, contributing significantly towards local development programmes for the South African government.