Prasa derails claims that Spanish trains too tall

Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA) boss Lucky Montana has rubbished a report claiming that the rail agency bought trains which were too tall to run in South Africa.

-----> RT @malungelob: #PRASA Here is the train passing through a tunnel in the Western Cape @eNCApic.twitter.com/AWwKbZqa1C

— ♔Dame Lesego♔ (@MissLesegoS) July 6, 2015

A controversy arose recently after Prasa imported 13 new diesel locos at a cost of R600-million as part of an order for 70 locos for R3.5-billion from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh Espaa.

Manny de Freitas, DA spokesman on transport,, claimed that the trains have a roof height of 4.264 meters, and that the maximum height of a diesel locomotive is not allowed to exceed 3.965m.

“Engineers say the locomotives could damage the overhead electrical cables on the country's rail lines‚” he said.

Montana however contradicted this claim, saying the height limit is actually 4.5 metres.

#Prasa says the mimimum height for electrical wires is 4.5m. The locos are 4.1m tall.

— James Styan (@jamesstyan) July 6, 2015

Further the trains are currently undergoing testing to make sure that they are safe - and so far so good.

#Prasa says the locomotives are currently being tested with success. No technical flaws or safety issues have arisen thus far.

— Lindiwe Mlandu (@LindiweMl) July 6, 2015

Q & A #Prasa At This Stage they are not for commercial use. They will run for 3000km and undergo other saftey and testing measures @ANN7tv

— Chante Jantjies (@ChanteJantjies_) July 6, 2015

Montana questioned the motives behind the media report, saying that the chief engineer was "being undermined maybe because he's black."

Now the GCEO is raising a race card where its not necessary...why? @eNCA@ANN7tv#Prasa#LocoRow

— Kabelo Ramokoka (@kabzar) July 6, 2015