TransNamib is in the process of standardising its fleet with General Electric/Wabtec locomotives. Manager of Corporate Communications, Abigail Raubenheimer said standardisation will ensure operational efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, improved reliability, and faster service, amongst other benefits.
Furthermore, she added that sourcing directly from the manufacturer will eliminate the need for a third-party agent and will facilitate the building of a direct relationship with the manufacturer.
The TransNamib Board approved the standardisation initiative in 2022, and subsequent approvals were granted by lending institutions and the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.
Raubenheimer said the Central Procurement Board of Namibia approved and commenced the bidding process in October last year after TransNamib successfully met all the conditions to access the funding in September last year.
She added that the board will engage with the manufacturer and once it has finalised the procurement process, the lending institutions will also review and verify to ensure that the process has been competitive.
TransNamib has cited challenges with its ageing and outdated fleet, necessitating the procurement of new rolling stock to transform the business.
Raubenheimer said over the last 50 years, TransNamib’s fleet has predominantly featured General Electric/Wabtec locomotives, which have proven to be exceptionally reliable in Namibia’s harsh environmental conditions.
She said these units have surpassed their typical 25-year service life, with some still running after more than 50 years of operation, continuing to serve currently as the backbone of TransNamib’s fleet. In contrast, locomotives from other brands that TransNamib acquired in the past are all not operational, she added.
TransNamib has secured vital funding from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Development Bank of Namibia, which will be allocated according to the company’s Integrated Strategic Business Plan for the next five years. The funds will be used for necessary rolling stock replacement and infrastructure upgrades, with a focus on revenue generation to ensure long-term financial sustainability and repayment to lending institutions.
Written for Railways Africa by Chamwe Kaira
