Photo by: Creamer Media
The preferred bidder in the race to provide 12 new four-car trains to the Gautrain system should be announced by the end of the year, says Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) CEO Jack van der Merwe.
The announcement was originally expected in August.
The Gautrain system currently operates 96 coaches, with train configurations of either four or eight coaches, depending on time-of-day demand.
The Gautrain is operated by the Bombela Concession Company.
The acquisition of new trains is aimed at alleviating congestion during the morning and evening peaks.
The funding for the project has been secured, indicates Van der Merwe.
“The challenge is how to structure the acquisition and use of these new train cars within a concession with a different life cycle.”
Other proposed improvements to the Gautrain system in the coming two years include upgrading the signalling system to reduce the time (headway) between trains, thereby increasing capacity on the network.
The GMA is also looking at adding an additional, fourth power source to enhance electricity supply to the system.
*Van der Merwe spoke to Engineering News Online on the sidelines of the Intelligent Transport Society of South Africa Cyber Security workshop, held on Wednesday.