Traxtion commits R1.5bn rail investment

Traxtion Group has announced an initial locomotive and wagon build programme (for freight only) of R1.5 billion upon conclusion of the appropriate access rights with Transnet. The Group plans to invest a further R14-17 billion in locomotives and wagons over the next 5 years as part of carefully scaled rolling procurement programme. The investments are a response to the new policy (part of the President’s Economic Recovery Plan) that will grant third-party access to the core rail network – to operate on the state-owned rail infrastructure alongside and complimentary to Transnet within the next 12 months. James Holley, CEO of Traxtion, tells Michael Avery, what the President’s signal means for rail in the region and what he sees as the perfect world – how he sees government, Transnet and third parties working together.