Media coverage

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa said the journey to modernising the country's rail system has earnestly begun. This, with the arrival of the first test train which will be replacing the old Metrorail train fleet over the next 20 years.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa said the journey to modernising the country's rail system has earnestly begun. This, with the arrival of the first test train which will be replacing the old Metrorail train fleet over the next 20 years.

National news - The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will soon replace its ageing Metrorail fleet with a new model, the organisation said on Friday.

Some 18 months after the financial close of a passenger train supply contract between the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Alstom subsidiary Gibela, the State-owned firm has welcomed the arrival of the first test train aimed at replacing the old Metrorail train fleet over the next 20 years.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has taken delivery of its first commuter bound passenger train set intended to replace the aging fleet of Metro units. Secluded to undergo testing for the next seven months before being put into service, the Brazilian-built X’Trapolis Mega forms part of the state-owned parastatal’s R172-million investment to modernise its rolling stock over the next 20 years.

Hidelberg/Nigel heraut - Gibela, (a joint venture between Alstom Southern Africa, New Africa Rail and Ubumbano), said it is confident they will meet the target of constructing a multi-billion Rand modern train manufacturing facility in Dunnottar.

Engineering News - Ahead of the start of construction of the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium’s
R1-billion modern manufacturing facility and ancillary supplier business park, in Dunnottar, on the East Rand, the company gathered in excess of 450 aspiring contractors at a sector-specific workshop on Tuesday.

CNBC Africa - South Africa is about to take a leap into the world of high-tech train manufacturing as the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium gears up to build a R1 billion, factory complex at Dunnottar in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

Business Day - In 2012, PRASA awarded a R51bn contract to the Gibela empowerment consortium — of which Alstom Southern African Holdings is the largest shareholder — to deliver 600 Alstom trains consisting of six coaches each for the agency’s commuter rail fleet renewal programme.

Financial Mail - The promise SA’s rail modernisation programme holds for the economy and for the country’s position in the greater African economy is vast.

Business Day - By the second half of 2017 Gibela Rail says it will be on track to begin assembling the first of 580 state-of-the-art commuter trains due to be built in SA. This forms as part of a R51bn contract aimed at modernising public transport and revitalising the rail engineering sector.

Engineering News - State-owned rail utility the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) rail expansion and renewal project is prompting much-needed large-scale orders for the casting industry, which is encouraging Bronkhorstspruit-based specialist foundry Steloy Castings to invest in new equipment specifically to service the rail industry through its newly formed Steloy Rail Division.