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Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa rail signalling system project, South Africa

28th June 2013

By: Sheila Barradas

Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Name and Location
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) rail signalling system project, South Africa.

Client
Prasa.

Project Description
Prasa plans to implement a new technologically advanced rail signalling system on its commuter rail network to replace the old and often unreliable system. The company reports that nearly 80% of its existing signalling installations have become obsolete and the remainder is not able to fully support modern and safe railway operations.

The existing railway signalling system is a mixture of technologies from the 1930s to the 1980s and, in Gauteng, it is dependent on manual intervention when transferring a train from one control centre to another.

The new system will enhance operational capacity, allow better flexibility, improve safety and reduce train delays and reliance on the human factor.

The introduction of the new system will be prioritised in high-volume corridors, such as Naledi, in Soweto, to Johannesburg; Pretoria to Johannesburg; Mabopane to Pretoria; Mamelodi to Pretoria; KwaMashu–Durban–Umlazi; Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Philippi to Cape Town; Kraaifontein–Bellville–Cape Town and Simon’s Town to Cape Town.

Value
Siemens has been awarded the R1.1-billion contract for the Gauteng South new signalling programme.

The KwaZulu-Natal new signalling contract is estimated at R1.87-billion and has been awarded to Bombardier Africa Alliance.

The Thales-Maziya consortium has been awarded the R1.87-billion contract to supply a new signalling solution to the Western Cape.

Duration
The project is scheduled for completion in 2015.

Latest Developments
The Thales-Maziya consortium has been awarded the R1.87-billion contract to supply a new signalling solution to the Western Cape, covering 250 km of the province’s passenger rail system.

This contract includes the modernisation of the rail signalling, communications and train management systems, covering 46 train stations in the Western Cape, and forms part of Prasa’s national new rail signalling programme.

The scope of the new signalling programme includes the replacement of all Prasa signalling installations and the associated civil, perway, electrical and telecommunication works, the construction of the train operation control centres, as well as the installation of fibre-optic cable networks in the Metrorail regions.

This will allow for telecommunication links between the various signal relay rooms and the regional train-traffic control centres.

Project work includes the construction of a new control centre, which will allow the monitoring and efficient management of all the train operations in the region; the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the new electronic interlocking systems and the associated wayside equipment; the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of new telecommunications and security systems; the upgrade and construction of new technical buildings; and the improvement of the track in some zones, providing better performance and more comfort for passengers.

Thales’ consortium partner, Maziya, will provide the infrastructure, civil works and power-supply expertise.

Prasa awarded Bombardier Africa Alliance the R1.87-billion KwaZulu-Natal new signalling contract in March.

Siemens was awarded the R1.1-billion contract for the Gauteng South new signalling programme.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Siemens South Africa (supply of rail signalling system – Gauteng), Thales-Maziya (supply of rail signalling system – Western Cape), Bombadier Africa Alliance, comprising Bombardier Transportation, ERB Technologies, Basil Read, Bakara Engineering, R&H Railway Consultants, SIMS and Tractionel (supply of rail signalling system – KwaZulu-Natal); and Huawei (digital radio communications system).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Prasa, tel +27 11 773 1600/1687/1595 or fax +27 11 774 6299; or head of communications Nana Zenani,
cell +27 82 626 8844 or
email nzenani@prasa.com.
Siemens Africa infrastructure and cities sector, Keshin Govender, tel +27 11 652 2146 or email sithembile.mokaeane@siemens.com; or Rolf Huber, tel +27 11 652 2000 or email rolf.huber@siemens.com.
Bombardier Transportation, Sandy Roth, tel +49 30 98607 1147.
Thales, Victoire Chartier, tel +33 1 57 77 90 22 or email victoire.chartier@thalesgroup.com.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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