Pretoria - Train users in Pretoria are one step closer to being ferried around efficiently and in comfort.
This comes after Test Train 1 (TT1) successfully commenced its first Open Line Testing (OLT) on Monday. The train, which is faster than a car on the highway and slightly slower than the Gautrain, travels at a maximum speed of 132km/h.
Members of the media witnessed the silver and blue locomotive display its impressive high speed before stopping at Medunsa railway station in Ga-Rankuwa.
The testing took place between Wolmerton and De Wildt stations and was conducted by Prasa and Gibela technicians.
Business readiness manager, Abram Nkgabutle, said they were pleased with the outcome of Test Train 1 and they were looking forward to running other tests, like passenger comfort, braking and acceleration and handling of corners in the coming months.
“The speed test met all our expectation,” Nkgabutle said.
The whole testing schedule is anticipated to be completed by the end of September in anticipation for commercial operation planned for October this year.
After completion, the trains will have air-conditioning, CCTV cameras and electronic boards that will assist passengers with info about their destinations. In addition the train will also cater for disabled persons with helpful facilities.
In 2014, Prasa and the Gibela Consortium reached a financial deal for the manufacturing of 600 new trains at a cost of R59 billion.
The contract allows for the manufacturing of 580 trains in South Africa, with only 20 trains to be manufactured in Brazil in line with the at least 65% localisation policy.
Prasa has already started with the construction of its local manufacturing plant worth R1bn on land at Dunnottar Park in Ekurhuleni.
The plant will also consist of the Supplier Park which will house direct suppliers to Gibela and will include black industrialists as part of the SMMEs supplying various rail components.
Overall, Gibela is contracted to achieve an average of 65% local content set to increase to about 80% within a decade. A total of R800 million has been set aside for skills development, with 1 500 people set to be permanently employed at the plant by Gibela.
About 19 500 people will receive rail-related training at the on-site training centre aimed as technicians, artisans, technologists, engineers etc. About 36 current train drivers are being trained to support the first deployment of the new trains for commercial operation in October.
To date, six out of 15 test drivers have been trained and certified. These are currently being used during the testing and commissioning phase. Prasa will also gradually introduce new operating corridors in Pretoria where the new trains will run and change its current operations in favour of a system that accommodates the running of the current and new trains.
“Prasa takes the Open Line Testing very seriously as it represents the next evolutionary step within passenger rail services. We have demonstrated proper alignment between government imperatives as well as vehicles to translate policy into real job opportunities, said chairperson of the Prasa board, Popo Molefe.
Pretoria News