News and Media

The production of the first South African-manufactured commuter train − made up of six state-of-the-art cars – destined for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) Metrorail network is scheduled to start in about 18 months’ time at a new R1 billion factory at Dunnottar in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, today supported the sod-turning event aimed at kick-starting the construction works for the planned state-of-the-art passenger train manufacturing plant.

The Gibela joint venture of Alstom and local partners marked the start of construction of its new EMU manufacturing plant at Dunnotar on March 4, with a ceremony attended by Alstom Chairman & CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge, PRASA Chairman Dr Popo Molefe, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and the Mayor of Ekurhuleni Mondli Gungubele.

Gibela CEO Marc Granger is positive the R51-billion deal that will see the Alstom-led consortium supply 600 new trains, up to 2027, to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will move ahead swiftly this year.

Gibela is set to begin preparing the site selected for its Dunnottar train manufacturing facility in Ekurhuleni.

Site clearing and earthworks for the R1-billion Dunnottar train manufacturing facility, in Ekurhuleni, which is being developed by the Alstom-led (61%) Gibela consortium, is moving ahead, following the award of a contract to Trencon Construction, of Edenvale.

The much-anticipated test by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) of the new state-of -the-art train is creating a buzz as it is scheduled to kick off before the end of this month.