The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) expects to have a report on the results of the testing of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa's (PRASA’s) Afro 4000 locomotives available at the end of August.

State-owned PRASA was currently facing a media storm, amid allegations that the Afro 4000 locomotives it had procured from Spain-based manufacturer Vossloh España are too tall for South African infrastructure, as the height of the trains is 4.26 m, whereas the national limit is 3.97 m.

It has, however, repeatedly assured that the locomotives met technical and safety requirements.

PRASA had ordered 20 diesel and 50 hybrid locomotives from Vossloh, with the first 13 diesel locomotives in various stages of testing.

The RSR in February issued PRASA with a ‘no objection’ testing and commissioning certificate to test the locomotives at different locations and under different operating conditions.

The results of the testing, which would determine whether the testing and commissioning should be extended or whether the rolling stock should be released for operation, would be available to the RSR in August.

After reviewing the results, the RSR would be required to respond to PRASA with comments within 30 days.

RSR acting communications senior manager Babalwa Mpendu told Engineering News Online in an e-mail interview that testing would be conducted in all areas where PRASA had a permit to operate.

“It should be noted that testing and commissioning is inclusive of testing the rolling stock under actual operational conditions,” she added.

Mpendu said the agency could not speculate on the outcome of the report until all testing had been concluded.

PRASA CHANGES
Meanwhile, PRASA late on Friday said it had suspended rail division engineering services executive manager Daniel Mtimkulu, who was extensively involved in the procurement of the Afro 4000 locomotives, following an internal enquiry instituted by PRASA Rail CEO Mosenngwa Mofi into the academic qualifications of Mtimkulu.

The suspension came as a result of the confirmation by the enquiry that he lacked the necessary qualifications. 

PRASA would now conduct a formal disciplinary hearing, which would be concluded within the next five working days.

Mtimkulu’s suspension followed a day after PRASA’s board announced that former CEO Lucky Montana had left the organisation, five months prior to his contract coming to an end.