Alstom’s South African joint venture company Gibela has started the construction of its new manufacturing site to build 580 suburban trains for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). The completion of the 60,000 m2 site, which will be built in phases, is expected to take 18 months. It will deliver 3,480 coaches over the next 10 years, with the first South African-manufactured train to be completed by the end of 2017. Around 1,500 people will be employed at the manufacturing, assembly and testing facilities. The site will include an academic training centre, large workshops, office buildings, as well as a test track and test facility required for the new trains.
“This new factory will be a catalyst for the revitalisation of the rail industry in South Africa through local manufacturing, high local supply level, employment creation and skills development. Alstom is proud to be involved in this new era of rail in the country”, said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom’s Chairman and CEO.
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