Transnet placed an order with CNR and its local south African consortium CNR RSSA for 232 class 45-000s in March 2014 as part of a broader procurement of 1064 locomotives, which are being supplied by four manufacturers.

The first 20 locomotives will be built in China while the remaining 212 units will be assembled at Transnet Rail Engineering's workshop in Durban under the supervision of CRRC. The first locomotives have now been shipped to South Africa and are expected to begin mainline testing in June. Deliveries are due to be completed in 2019.

MTU is supplying 232 MTU Series 4000 diesel engines for the fleet under a €100m contract awarded last January. The type 20V 4000 R63L power units will have an output of 3.3MW and are the most powerful locomotive engines in MTU's range.

The first 20 units will be produced at MTU's Friedrichshafen plant in Germany and supplied directly to CNR Dalian, while the remainder will be delivered to subsidiary MTU South Africa for final assembly and testing at its plant in Cape Town. MTU says local production will begin in June. 

CRRC transnet rollout