Capital Equipment News June 2015

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS JUNE 2015 28
We all know how the South African
rail system has been decimated
over the years and are familiar with
the long standing cry for the system to be
re-vamped. Well, this is finally coming into
fruition. Rail, in its heyday was regarded as
the most cost-effective means of transport,
not only for passengers but for goods as
well. Most of the country’s commuter rail
system, has reached the end of its lifespan
and has been earmarked for improvement.
The ambitious programme, which is now un-
derway, will in the next five years hopefully
come to fruition with the introduction of new
rail stock and technology into the system.
The increase in peoples’ movement and
corresponding road traffic is posing serious
challenges for the country’s economy. The
massive increase in long distance travel in
South Africa has put a major strain on road
and air traffic, which can only be addressed
through a rapid rail system, be it commuter
or inter-city.
Four high-speed rail projects have been
identified in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape
Town and Musina in Limpopo which will
form the basis of the revitalised programme.
Gibela Rail Transport RF (Pty) Ltd (Gibela)
is the new, empowered South African rail
company, selected to breathe life into the
country’s commuter rail network and its
century-old train building capacity was
launched in July 2014. Gibela is a South
African rail company born out of a consor-
tium consisting of, Alstom Southern Africa,
New Africa Rail and Ubumbano, that was
awarded the contract worth R51 bn as part
of PRASA’s 10-year rolling stock programme
to design, manufacture and deliver 600 pas-
senger trains. The company has established
a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in
Ekurhuleni, Gauteng where it has localised
the manufacture of components for the new
fleet and at the same time created jobs on a
sizeable scale. In tandem with managing local
content of more than 65%, Gibela facilitates
the development of local rail-sector relevant
skills and the transfer of technical know-how.
As Gibela’s majority shareholder and major
supplier, Alstom plays a significant role in the
transfer of historical technological expertise
in suburban rail transport which includes the
robust design-proven X’Trapolis family and
its X’Trapolis Mega (MEtric Gauge)-a safe,
reliable and comfortable train, specifically
designed for South Africa.
South African artisans are working with ex-
perienced teams in Brazil where the first 20
trains are being manufactured using a sig-
nificant percentage of South African content.
This is part of the skills transfer required for
the local build of the remaining 580 units.
Confidence is running high and the project is
well advanced with seven body shells being
completed in Brazil and assurances that the
first trains will start rolling off the local as-
sembly line in 2017.
This programme is of national importance
and there is no doubt that all challenges
have to be overcome in order that the coun-
try and its people maintain a positive eco-
nomic growth structure. b
SOUTH AFRICAN
rail system back on track
By Pierre Sanson