Prasa to enter into negotiations to acquire Spanish locos at reduced price

Diesel motive power and operations in Southern Africa
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John Ashworth
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Prasa to enter into negotiations to acquire Spanish locos at reduced price

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Prasa to enter into negotiations to acquire Spanish locomotives at reduced price
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is set to enter into negotiations with Stadler Rail in a bid to acquire the remaining locomotives, which will be used on its long-distance railway line, at a reduced price. Stadler Rail now owns Vossloh Espana the Spanish company subcontracted by Swifambo Rail to build the locomotives for Prasa in a tender process that has since been found to be corrupt by the North Gauteng High Court...

Transport department director general Alec Moemi, during a briefing on Tuesday night, disputed the fact the locomotives were ill-suited for use on railway lines, saying it was never meant to be used on Metrorail lines but was bought exclusively to be used for its Shosholoza Meyl long-distance operation. Thus far, 13 trains have been delivered with another nine sitting in the harbour and seven on the Stadler manufacturing line... Swifambo did not hand over the money it received from Prasa to Vossloh, leading to the trains not being delivered...

"We need locomotives that are ready. Do we have time to wait longer for a new manufacturer to build according to spec? It can be done, but that means a lengthy suspension of services on many lines... We are aware that they seem desperate and we think we can get a much better deal … we think we can get them much cheaper than what we would have paid for them before." Shosholoza Meyl is currently leasing old locomotives on its lines which is costing Prasa a fortune.
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Mel Turner
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Re: Prasa to enter into negotiations to acquire Spanish locos at reduced price

Post by Mel Turner »

Moemi's numeracy skills must be seriously questioned. Or the journalist/subs are quoting out of context.

Vossloh only built 20 Afro 4000. The 13 delivered to SA, and the 7 plainly visible in the Google Earth image of Stadler's Valencia Works.

The 5 PRASA Duals that were completed are also visible in the vertical image @ 39°32'37.64" N 0°18'17.94" W
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Re: Prasa to enter into negotiations to acquire Spanish locos at reduced price

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Thanks, Mel. Generally it looks like a poorly written article.
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John Ashworth
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Re: Prasa to enter into negotiations to acquire Spanish locos at reduced price

Post by John Ashworth »

Why is Prasa still trying to buy trains that can’t be used?

Not sure whether the Daily Maverick is a very reliable source of information.
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