Name and Location
New Rolling Stock Procurement Programme, nationwide, South Africa.

Client
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).

Project Description
The Department of Transport, through PRASA, is to invest in a new rail rolling stock fleet-renewal programme across South Africa.

The programme will upgrade and expand the current rail infrastructure by introducing new stock for commuter rail service Metrorail and by offering more routes between destinations in South Africa.

The aim is to replace the old fleet, which has reached the end of its design life.

As part of the procurement programme, PRASA aims to upgrade and construct fully functional modern maintenance depots at Braamfontein, Wolmerton, Salt River, Durban Yard and Springfield, which will support and service PRASA’s new metro trains by the time the first new train sets are delivered in the first quarter of 2015. The new depots will meet maintenance demand of the new, increased fleet and PRASA’s existing metro trains, until 2034.

The modernisation will mainly consist of the refurbishment or upgrade of selected existing buildings, the construction of additional operational buildings and the reconstruction of the staging yards. The initial phase of the works will include the demolition of selected existing buildings in preparation for the upgrade.

The upgrade will result in the introduction of the following technologies at the depots to optimise operational efficiencies:
• a new in-floor lifting system (synchronised retractable train-lifting jacks);
• a new universal lifting system, which allows for the synchronised lifting of different types of trains;
• an underfloor wheel lathe, which enables wheel-set profiling on site; and
• yard signalling, to allow for the efficient control of train movements within the yards.

Value
R123-billion.

An extra R14.5-billion will be invested in signalling, new depots, modern stations and integrated ticketing.

Duration
The 20-year procurement process will comprise two periods – the first ten-year contract will run from 2015 and the second from 2025.

The first new trains are expected for delivery in 2015.

Latest Developments
Stainless steel flat products producer Columbus Stainless is supplying the coils and sheets for the first 20 passenger train sets that form part of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) passenger coach replacement project.

The bulk of the coils and sheets, supplied in May and June, were type 301, with a small percentage being type 304L coils and sheets.

These first passenger train sets are being built at French transport company Alstom’s coach-building facility, in Brazil, after which they will be manufactured in South Africa. The coaches will be supplied in 2015 and form part of PRASA’s R51-billion deal to acquire 600 new trains from rail consortium Gibela.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
KPMG, Gibb Engineering and Science, Interfleet Technology and Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENS – feasibility study) and Gibela Rail Transportation, comprising Alstom and its black economic-empowerment equity partners (Phase 1 – rolling stock supply contract) and Siyahamba Engineering (manufacture of drivers’ cab doors for the first 200 PRASA trains); Columbus Steel (coils and sheets for the first 20 passenger train sets).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
PRASA, Moffet Mofokeng, tel +27 12 748 7000 or email momofokeng@prasa.com.
KPMG corporate finance Walter Meyer, tel +27 21 408 7220 or email market.engagement@kpmg.co.za.
Gibb Engineering and Science, tel +27 11 519 4600 or fax +27 11 807 5670.
Interfleet Technology, tel +44 1332 223000 or fax +44 1332 223001.
ENS, tel +27 11 269 7600, fax +27 11 269 7899 or email info@ensafrica.com.
Alstom, tel +27 11 518 8100.
Gibela, Pamella Radebe, tel +27 11 518 8232 or email pamella.radebe@gibela-rail.com.
Siyahamba Engineering, tel +27 11 824 2183 or fax +27 11 824 3627.
Columbus Stainless, tel +27 13 247 9111 or fax +27 13 246 1681.