R51bn trains we can’t use
A R1 billion train factory was launched yesterday – but billions more will correct a vital flaw: the train doors are lower than the station platforms.
It will cost R172bn to modernise the rail infrastructure countrywide.
The official opening of a multibillion-rand locomotive manufacturing in Dunnottar on the East Rand was welcomed yesterday, but it’s going to be a while before the locomotives – costing R51 billion – can be put to work.
The commuter stations on which they will be used will have to undergo major renovations, including platforms, which are not the same height as the train doors.
Another problem is a safety permit furore between the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR) and the Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa (Prasa), thanks to the collapse of the signalling system.
This culminated in a court order last week preventing any new stock being allowed to hit the tracks. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni called for better project management.
The new plant is a joint exercise between Gibela shareholders Alstom (61%), Ubumbano Rail (30%) and New Africa Rail (39%). It is expected to deliver two new locomotives by December, nine by March next year and 56 over the next two years.
The entire R51 billion contract was for 600 XTtrapolis Mega locomotives over 10 years for Prasa, of which 20 were already manufactured in Brazil, according to Alstom. The other 580 will now be built in Dunnottar, creating up to 1 500 jobs.
Gibela claims on its website that the trains – now undergoing tests on a 23km-long line outside Pretoria – will have easy access for passengers with disabilities.
But in January, Prasa’s strategic asset development group executive, Piet Sebola, told Engineering News the challenge facing Prasa was that the platforms at its stations were too low for the new stock.
He said the organisation had been aware of this “from the start”, Engineering News reported.
He said also the project to lift the platforms – expected to form a significant part of the 10-yearR172 billion project to modernise rail infrastructure countrywide – had not been progressing as expected. “We can’t work at the pace we want to, as we have to shut down the station completely and, in some cases, the entire rail corridor too.”
But Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani yesterday insisted it was a case of the new meeting the old and said the R172 billion modernisation programme, launched in 2014, was on track.
The programme included rebuilding where necessary, upgrading signalling and electronics, and the replacement of rolling stock and locomotives. France reportedly paid Alstom €50 million (R820 million) in 2014 to shave its platforms because the new trains were too wide.
And while Prasa literally moves earth to accommodate Gibela’s new trains, there are 12 locomotives which Prasa has bought and paid for which can be used on both long distance and metro lines.
Despite concerns about the AFRO4000 locomotives height, they were approved with modifications by the RSR.
The contract with Swifambo for these trains has been set aside and Prasa has paid billions for a product which works but it doesn’t want anymore.
The court found Swifambo had fronted the entire deal.
We can’t work at the pace we want to, as we have to shut down the station
“They should not have been given the tender in the first place,” said Justice EJ Francis.
“There were so many irregularities that took place in the awarding of the tender that the inescapable conclusion is that they were not innocent.”
Swifambo is applying for leave to appeal the matter next week.
In the meantime, the 12 Swifambo locomotives (there were 13, one crashed) which were modified to fit following the size debacle, are currently undergoing testing outside Pretoria.
RSR spokesperson Madelaine Williams said these would only be allowed to enter the system once it was satisfied with the results of the tests being conducted.