The first new passenger trains to be delivered according to a multibillion-rand contact signed between Gibela and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) are set to enter service in October, says PRASA strategic asset development group executive Piet Sebola.

He says the first new blue and grey passenger trains, replacing the yellow and grey Metrorail sets, will run on the line between Pretoria and Pienaarspoort.

“By January next year, we will have only new trains on that line. It will be about eight sets, with one spare set.”

The second line to introduce the new trains will be the Pretoria–Saulsville line, followed by the Pretoria–Johannesburg line.

Sebola adds that he is “very happy” with the progress on the rolling stock contract.

“As we are talking, we have six train sets on our shores, the factory is under construction and a new training centre will open at the same site. Everything is on track.”

Gibela is supplying PRASA with 600 new trains, in a R59-billion deal (including Vat but excluding inflation), with the first 20 trains imported from Brazil, and 580 to be built at a plant currently under construction in Dunnottar, on the East Rand.

Gibela has also signed a 19-year maintenance and technical support programme with PRASA.

Gibela CEO Marc Granger notes that his company is targeting 70% local content on the South African-built trains.

Thirty-two local companies are already supplying parts for the Brazilian-made trains.

Gibela already has 47 contracts in place for the supply of various materials, components and services, he notes.

Sebola says PRASA will run the old Metrorail train sets for roughly another ten years to ensure that the company has “the critical mass” necessary to support its customers.

“The new sets will start to dominate by around 2027.”

Old train sets are still being refurbished at a cost of around R2-billion a year.

Metrorail currently transports around 2.2-million people a day, says Sebola.

The new rolling stock will be supported by investment in rail infrastructure, a depot modernisation programme, new signalling systems and station upgrades, says Sebola.

The Braamfontein depot, in Johannesburg, for example, will receive a R2.2-billion facelift, with the contractor for this project to be appointed in August.

The project is set for completion in May 2018.

Signalling in Gauteng is being upgraded in a R3.8-billion project, with KwaZulu-Natal receiving a R1.3-billion upgrade, to be completed in 2019. The R1.8-billion Western Cape upgrade is also expected to be completed in 2019.

In the station upgrade programme, Park station, in Johannesburg, which currently handles around 200 000 passengers a day, will receive a R1.3-billion facelift, to be completed by March 2019.

The aim of the upgrade is to increase revenue generation at the station, to generate additional commercial opportunities and to improve the customer experience.

“We have developed master plans to develop our stations as precincts,” says Sebola. “PRASA owns a lot of property around the stations and we would like to see more accommodation and commercial developments around our stations.”