KEEP IT LOCAL

Your cover article in the May 2015 issue of Popular Mechanics stated that The Passenger Rail Agency’s super trains were a boon to the South African economy. I would beg to differ, on the grounds that importing trains and rolling stock from other countries was actually a step backwards.

For almost a hundred years South Africa was making all its own rolling stock, coaches, goods trains, all undercarriages and wheels, all cast and built at Nigel outside Johannesburg. And they were made to a high standard and correct height for overhead cables. Diesel engines were built in the Cape. These were built to the highest safety standards. The Nigel rolling stock factory employed hundreds of workers from all race groups. This was an absolute plus for South Africa.

So now PRASA is sending millions of rands out of the country in the purchase of trains and equipment that we could have carried on building right here, giving the people of this country much-needed employment.

Rail foundations in South Africa were put down firmly on both steel and hardwood sleepers. The difference compared with UK and USA gauge of 1 435 mm (SA 10 67 mm ) is 368 mm. Did anybody look into the possibility of moving each track out 184 mm on our substantial sleepers? And let South Africans do the work, thus creating thousands of muchneeded jobs. G BUTTON PLETTENBERG BAY