Transnet to de-electrify trains as cable theft threatens network

[John Ashworth]

Transnet to de-electrify trains as cable theft threatens network

Transnet plans to de-electrify some trains in a bid to avert copper cable theft which has hampered the performance of its rail services.

In a presentation to the mining industry at the Joburg Indaba on Wednesday, Transnet CEO Portia Derby said that in the last 24 hours there were 32 cable theft incidents on Transnet railways, with 5,775m of copper cable lost...

[John Ashworth]

After 1 000km of copper cable was stolen from Transnet, it may switch to diesel-only trains

"The incidents range from the theft of copper cable, vandalism of susbstations which are crucial to the running of our electrified fleet, theft of wiring and cable from locomotives, theft of wooden rail sleepers and other malicious damage to Transnet property," TFR said. "The damage runs into hundreds of millions." The rail operator said many of the incidents take place on high-traffic and high-volume corridors, moving major bulk commodities for its customers... The group said it continues to work with law enforcement, the matter is however so severe that Transnet is proposing a move away from diesel-electric locomotives to diesel-only as this will do away with need for copper cabling...

Although cabling is, of course, still required to operate signals.