In a Trading Update for the financial year ending in March, Transnet said the number of locomotives in Freight Rail’s fleet had declined by 25% since 2018 – from 2 215 to 1 656 locomotives.
“The ability to access spare parts of certain locomotives has been jeopardised by the 1 064 locomotive review application and thus affecting the reliability and availability of locomotives,” Transnet said.
Transnet and the Special Investigating Unit have launched legal proceedings against the Chinese Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) over the irregular procurement of 1 064 locomotives at the height of state capture in South Africa.
An interim order handed down by the Special Tribunal – which is mandated to recover public funds syphoned through corruption – served to freeze R4.2 billion in bank accounts linked to CRRC.
Meanwhile, the Chinese company has refused to provide Transnet with specialised spares for Transnet’s locomotives.
On Friday, Transnet said it was progressing with negotiations with the company “that may draw protracted litigation to a close and enable the rehabilitation of locomotives and security of supply”.
Transnet said that approximately 15,7 million tonnes of freight volumes have been lost in the current financial year as a direct consequence of locomotive unavailability on the North Corridor alone.
The North Corridor, which moves coal from Mpumalanga to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal and into the export markets, is Transnet’s most lucrative line.