The first consignment of the 25 locomotives for the mineral railway line project has arrived at King Abdul Aziz Seaport, the Saudi Railway Company (SAR), announced on Tuesday. The remaining 19 locomotives will arrive by the end of this year, said Fawaz Al-Maqati, a senior SAR official. “These 4,300-hp engines will be used for transporting minerals on the North-South Railway,” he said. “They are designed to suit the climatic conditions of the Kingdom and are equipped with pulse and sand filters to travel through desert conditions,” said Al-Maqati. Early last month, SAR received 125 of the 688 wagons for the mineral freight line. The locomotives are being manufactured by EMD (Electro-Motive Diesels), an American company based in Canada, while the Chinese company CSR is manufacturing the required 688 wagons for mineral transport. Al-Maqati said training for engine drivers and other technicians will start in October. The company's target is to start operations before the end of 2010.
