Alstom’s JV Gibela has announced at Africa Rail 2015 that construction of the new train manufacturing site at Dunnottar, Gauteng will begin in the third quarter of 2015. The new site is part of a contract won by Alstom in 2013 for the supply of 600 X’Trapolis Mega commuter trains (3,600 cars) over a period of 10 years, as well as technical support and the supply of spare parts over an 18-year period.
The site will cover 85,000m2 and be able to produce 62 trains per year. While the first 20 trains are being built at Alstom’s Lapa plant in Brazil, the following 580 will be produced in the newly built site. A first train is already in testing phase and is well on course for shipment to South Africa, scheduled for September ahead of on-shore delivery in November.
The project is beneficial for South Africa as it creates both direct and undirect jobs, develops local skills and contributes to South Africa’s industrial renaissance.
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