€355m Wabtec deal anchors African rail plans across six nations

By Olivia Hart

Transnet Engineering has signed a long-term agreement worth approximately €355 million with Wabtec to support South Africa’s Class 43D (C30ACi) and Class 44D (ES40ACi) diesel-electric locomotive fleets. The contract covers three service areas:

• Spare-parts support for both locomotive classes.
• Technical assistance for Transnet Engineering.
• Predictive maintenance intended to improve locomotive availability.

The stated operational outcome is higher availability on Transnet Freight Rail’s freight network.

Transnet Freight Rail separately tested a 696-wagon empty iron ore train on the Saldanha export corridor on 18 October. The formation combined Class 15E electric and Class 43D diesel-electric locomotives in a radio distributed power configuration. Transnet described the movement as a “world record,” but the run was a technical evaluation rather than a commercial service.

What does the Transnet contract change for locomotive availability?

The agreement gives two diesel-electric classes a named supplier for spare parts, technical assistance and predictive maintenance. Transnet states that these services will improve locomotive availability.

The announcement provides no baseline availability rate, fleet quantity, parts list, delivery schedule or savings target, so it cannot yet quantify the service or cost gain. Fleet condition reports, parts consumption and outage records would show whether the agreement improves availability rather than merely documenting a purchase.

Transnet’s 696-wagon test established the size and locomotive configuration of the evaluated consist, but it did not establish commercial carrying capacity. The company provided no comparison data for its claimed world record, and the train carried no iron ore on the evaluation run.

TAZARA links recovery to a five-year concession

In Tanzania and Zambia, TAZARA approved a “five-year recovery plan” linked to its existing €1.25 billion rehabilitation concession with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The programme combines infrastructure rehabilitation with rolling-stock renewal.

TAZARA projects freight volume rising from 110,000 tonnes in 2026/27 to 1.8 million tonnes in 2030/31. That increase is a forecast rather than a recorded result, and no annual traffic path or contracted cargo accompanies it.

TAZARA will retain freight operations initially, before their planned transfer to the concessionaire. The announcement gives no funding drawdown, work-package schedule or equipment delivery dates against which the projected 2030/31 volume can be checked.

Ghana opens private access to Tema–Mpakadan

Ghana opened its approximately 97 km Tema–Mpakadan standard-gauge railway to qualified private freight operators. The Ghana Railway Development Authority also signed an agreement with International Service Solution to develop container traffic.

By December 2026, the authority expects three locomotives and 20 wagons. The planned operating model transfers containers from rail to barges on Lake Volta, then carries them toward northern Ghana.

The proposal creates a defined freight chain, but the announcement gives no first-service date, tariff, cargo commitment or traffic forecast. Until the December equipment delivery and commercial operation occur, the opening represents market access and planned capacity rather than demonstrated throughput.

Namibia revises its locomotive procurement

In Namibia, TransNamib is adjusting its fleet-renewal plans toward a combination of new and remanufactured locomotives. It estimates delivery lead times of 24 months for new units and nine months for remanufactured locomotives.

TransNamib is discussing financing and procurement arrangements with development banks and government authorities. No order size, funding amount or tender date has been set. The choice changes expected lead time, but the announcement does not quantify differences in purchase price, maintenance cost, capacity or availability.

Algeria tenders a 310 km Saharan railway

Algeria’s railway investment agency ANESRIF invited bids for construction of a 310 km section of the El Ménéa–In Salah–Tamanrasset railway. The section forms part of the planned north–south corridor connecting Algeria’s northern network with Saharan regions.

At the tender stage, no contractor, contract value, completion date or traffic forecast accompanies the invitation. The project can add north–south capacity only after award and construction, so it should not yet be counted as available route or service capacity.

Through the end of 2026, the next checks are concrete: whether Ghana receives three locomotives and 20 wagons, whether Namibia settles financing and procurement, and whether Algeria awards the 310 km tender. Fleet and outage data will test Transnet’s availability claim, while the Saldanha evaluation and TAZARA’s 2030/31 target will show whether announced capacity becomes commercial traffic.