The first diesel locomotive from CRRC Diesel Locomotive South Africa for Transnet rolled off the line in Dalian, Chia. Picture: CRRC

When CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation) Diesel Locomotive South Africa was awarded a contract to supply diesel locomotives to Transnet Freight Rail two years ago, the term “international equipment manufacturing capacity cooperation” hasn’t become the key word in the discussion of China’s trade and economic cooperation.
In March 2014, CRRC Diesel

Locomotive South Africa was known as CNR Rolling Stock South Africa. Back then, the company signed a contract to provide 232 diesel locomotives to Transnet. It is the largest over- seas diesel locomotive order in the history of CRRC.

The CRRC Dalian is named after the famous port city Dalian where the factory is located in the North Eastern China. Founded in 1899, CRRC Dalian today has become an international producer and exporter of diesel loco- motives, electric locomotives, engines and urban transit, light rail vehicles (LRVs) and diesel engines. It can provide all types of railway products and solutions such as maintenance, service, project consultation and research and development sup- port. The company can produce 700 locomotives and repair 450 locomotives, 700 urban transit LRVs and 500 high power diesel engines annually.

This month, the first Transnet diesel locomotive rolled off the production line in Dalian. CRRC Dalian also opened its new loop line in Lvshun for Transnet D45 locomotives in advance. The test loop line is the only one with a multiple gauge, multiple voltage test loop in China.

The South African ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, DolanaMsimang, vice- governor of Liaoning Province, Liaoning and Dalian senior government officials, chairpersons, board member and senior executives of both Transnet and CRRC attended the offline ceremony and expressed their congratulations.

“It is exciting that the Transnet/CRRC partnership will leverage on the localisation of our country’s capital investment programme to protect, develop and create local employment opportunities and transfer technology into SA,” said the ambassador.

In an exclusive interview with People’s Daily Online, the CEO of CRRC Diesel Locomotive South Africa, Jeff Wang, revealed that the first 20 locomotives will be built in China, and the remaining 212 locomotives will be locally manufactured in Durban, SA. “Some parts made in SA were already built into the very first locomotive,” said Wang.

“The diesel locomotives are tailor-made to adapt to the South African climate and railway line. The advanced AC traction drive technology is energy-efficient and designed to meet long-distance transportation needs. The emission conforms to European standards.”

The narrow-gauge locomotives specially designed for Transnet have the most advanced technological level and largest power at present, CRRC Dalian sources said. With service power of up to 3,300kW and a 1,065-mm gauge, they can operate alongside SA’s existing loco- motives at speeds of 100km/h.

Transnet Freight
group awarded the contracts for the procurement of 1,064 loco- motives in 2014, collectively valued at R50bn, which is the largest ever concluded by the state-owned utility, to four OEMs including CRRC Dalian.

“Coming next is the local assembly of the vehicles. The components’ local production is also advancing on schedule,” said Wang.

The components for the diesel locomotives are planned to be manufactured and assembled at Transnet Engineering’s Durban factory. According to Transnet Engineering’s website, the locomotive business section in Durban currently refurbishes, converts, upgrades or remanufactures more than 400 locomotives annually. It also maintains more than 2,500 of the locomotives in the country’s fleet to provide its customers with a source of reliable and available tractive effort.

According to Wang, recruitment is already under way in the Durban factory for production in the next phase. CRRC Dalian has dispatched technicians to Durban for technical support.

“Not only will we help train in basic skills, such as welding, for the new employees, but also for the experienced staff, because different vehicles have different standards and technical requirements,” said Wang.

“Through technology transfer and training, the cooperation with Transnet will bring employment and promote local economic development.”

Msimang said: “SA’s relations with China are at the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership with the bilateral relationship being among the most vibrant and important relation- ships our country has had. I firmly believe that this partnership will go a long way in strengthening and enhancing our bilateral relationship with China.”

(The story was originally published on Business Day on March 31st, 2016.)