Grindrod Locomotives, South Africa, is supplying an initial batch of eight of the six-axle metre-gauge locomotives. The next two units will be delivered this month and the remaining four are due to arrive by the end of the year.
Grindrod subsidiary GPR Leasing is financing four of the locomotives for a five-year period. Grindrod Locomotives will also supply components for the next three years together with technical supervision services.
The locomotives will be used on freight services from the capital Yaoundé to the north of the country and Camrail says each unit will be capable of hauling up to 1500 tonnes.
The locomotives are being acquired by Camrail, part of Bolloré Africa Logistics, under its concession agreement to operate the network until December 2034. This includes $US 2.15bn of investment in the network between 2009 and 2020, $US 1.48bn of which will come from Camrail.
