Page 33 - Logistics News June 2016

news

Johannesburg

South Africa Durban
East London
Cape Town

Gautrain’s 48 new A wholly
coaches to ease owned
subsidiary
rush-hour squeeze in South
Africa
THE WINNER of the bid to provide 48 new since 2015.
coaches for the Gautrain would be named in
November, Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Johannesburg, Durban,
Ismail Vadi has announced. The new rolling stock, East London & Cape Town
part of an estimated R3,5-bn procurement deal,
is expected to boost the Gautrain’s capacity to Jungheinrich South Africa (Pty) Ltd
meet growing ridership demand over the next Tel: +27 (0)10 596 8460
10 years, particularly during the rush hour. www.jungheinrich.co.za

The Gautrain has already reached passenger 31
levels predicted for 2020 on rising peak-hour
demand. The rapid rail system has had growth of
26% year on year.

In January Vadi said Bombela had invited
bids for the design, manufacture, supply
and maintenance of 12 electrical trains (four
coaches each). The deal includes the design and
construction of Gautrain depot infrastructure.

“The planned expansion shows that Gautrain
enjoys high levels of confidence by rail
commuters and that the passenger demand is
growing steadily,” Vadi said.

Funding for the new coaches was secured
from the Development Bank of Southern Africa
in the form of a R3,5-bn loan to the Gautrain
Management Agency, a unit of the provincial
transport department that oversees the Gautrain.

Transport analyst Paul Browning said the
new coaches were a good investment as they
would increase the current eight-car train sets
operated during peak periods to 12-car sets, a
50% capacity increase.

“When you have invested all that money in a
fixed-track system you should use it to capacity.
It may make things only marginally better
because the additional capacity will be taken up,”
said Browning.

June 2016 | Logistics News