THE second passenger train acquired under a massive R51bn contract has arrived at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa’s) Wolmerton depot near Pretoria.
Depot infrastructure for the test trains and all test tracks were ready, head of Prasa’s fleet renewal programme Piet Sebola said.
The contract, which is managed through Gibela Rail Transport Consortium, is for the upgrade of Prasa’s urban Metrorail fleet.
Gibela, the special-purpose company created to oversee the manufacture and maintenance of the 600 new trains, is 61% owned by French multinational Alstom.
The first 20 of the trains were due to be manufactured at Alstom facilities in Brazil, with the rest due to be assembled in SA.
This contract is separate from Prasa’s R3.5bn deal, inflated to more than R4.8bn due to inadequate hedging, for the "too-tall" locomotives from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh Espana through black economic empowerment partner Swifambo Rail Leasing.
In November, Business Day reported that the first of the Gibela trains had arrived without support infrastructure, such as a test track and depot, being ready. This put pressure on the troubled agency to complete critical upgrades needed for its commuter train modernisation plans.
The second train arrived on SA’s shores early last month and was delivered by truck to the Wolmerton depot on Friday.
Prasa appointed two contractors, Grindrod Rail Consulting and Mota-Engil Construction SA, to construct the Wolmerton test tracks for the new trains.
One test track, where first-line testing of the new trains will take place, has been extended to 1.6km from 800m. A second test track will be used to check train speeds. Tests will begin next week.
Mr Sebola said that since the arrival of the first train the agency had worked 24-hour shifts seven days a week to prepare the Wolmerton depot for test runs.
"If we look at where we were last year, we have made a significant turn-around and we are happy with the progress of the modernisation programme," he said.
One of 600 trains bought by Prasa from Gibela in a R51bn deal to modernise the Metrorail fleet. Picture: GIBELA
THE second passenger train acquired under a massive R51bn contract has arrived at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa’s) Wolmerton depot near Pretoria.
Depot infrastructure for the test trains and all test tracks were ready, head of Prasa’s fleet renewal programme Piet Sebola said.
The contract, which is managed through Gibela Rail Transport Consortium, is for the upgrade of Prasa’s urban Metrorail fleet.
Gibela, the special-purpose company created to oversee the manufacture and maintenance of the 600 new trains, is 61% owned by French multinational Alstom.
The first 20 of the trains were due to be manufactured at Alstom facilities in Brazil, with the rest due to be assembled in SA.
This contract is separate from Prasa’s R3.5bn deal, inflated to more than R4.8bn due to inadequate hedging, for the "too-tall" locomotives from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh Espana through black economic empowerment partner Swifambo Rail Leasing.
In November, Business Day reported that the first of the Gibela trains had arrived without support infrastructure, such as a test track and depot, being ready. This put pressure on the troubled agency to complete critical upgrades needed for its commuter train modernisation plans.
The second train arrived on SA’s shores early last month and was delivered by truck to the Wolmerton depot on Friday.
Prasa appointed two contractors, Grindrod Rail Consulting and Mota-Engil Construction SA, to construct the Wolmerton test tracks for the new trains.
One test track, where first-line testing of the new trains will take place, has been extended to 1.6km from 800m. A second test track will be used to check train speeds. Tests will begin next week.
Mr Sebola said that since the arrival of the first train the agency had worked 24-hour shifts seven days a week to prepare the Wolmerton depot for test runs.
"If we look at where we were last year, we have made a significant turn-around and we are happy with the progress of the modernisation programme," he said.
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