Name of the Project
Gautrain rolling stock procurement programme.

Location
Gauteng, South Africa.

Client
Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), an agency of government.

The Gautrain is operated by the Bombela Concession Company (BCC).

Project Description
The project involves the acquisition of 12 new trains of four cars each for the Gautrain.

The contract includes the design, manufacture, supply and maintenance of the new rolling stock, depot extensions to accommodate the new trains, signalling upgrades, as well as the construction of pocket tracks on the 82 km system for maintenance equipment and the parking of broken-down trains.

The new trains will not have to come from the same family, but will have to operate successfully under similar conditions.

Jobs to be Created
The project is expected to sustain 10 000 jobs in Gauteng.

Value
The price tag on the trains, the depots and track expansions is expected to be about R2.5-billion to R3-billion, although the weak rand could push prices higher.

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) will pay for the rolling stock and has secured a loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa for the acquisition.

It is, however, amenable to alternative funding options as presented by the successful bidder.

Duration
The new rolling stock should enter operation in 2018.

Latest Developments
The Gauteng government is expected to announce the preferred bidder on the supply of new, additional rolling stock for the Gautrain system by midyear.

The Gauteng government in October shortlisted three bidders to supply 12 new trains of four coaches each, owing to passenger demand exceeding expectations, particularly during peak hours.

The rail system currently operates 96 coaches, with train configurations of either four or eight coaches, depending on demand.
 
The three prequalified bidders for the new rolling stock project are Bombardier Transportation, CRRC E-Loco Supply and Egoli Rail Consortium.
 
The Bombardier Transportation bid consists of Bombardier Transportation South Africa as the supplier, with Strategic Partners Group (SPG) and Bombardier Transportation UK – shareholders in the group – to maintain the rolling stock.

Bombardier and SPG are shareholders in Bombela, the Gautrain operator.

Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of Canadian firm Bombardier. It supplied the current Gautrain Electrostar rolling stock fleet.

Neither of the other two bidders split the rolling stock supply and maintenance portions.

The CRRC E-Loco Supply bid includes CSR Zelc (SA) and the Matsete Basadi group as shareholders. The companies have partnered previously to deliver electric locomotives to South African State-owned rail freight group Transnet.

CRRC E-Loco Supply is the South African subsidiary of China’s CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive.

The Egoli Rail Consortium comprises Alstom Southern Africa, EOH Intelligent Infrastructure and Ubumbano OpCo.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
GMA senior executive manager communication and marketing Dr Barbara Jensen, email barbaraj@gautrain.co.za.