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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 20 Oct 2008 Title: Gautrain takes shape in Nigel workshop -------------------- Many motorists across Gauteng have seen the Gautrain route taking shape along the highways and its stations begin to look less like rubble and more like buildings, but in a workshop in the east of Johannesburg, the Gautrain itself is beginning to take form, writes Nthambeleni Gabara. A total of 81 out of 96 high-speed train coaches are being assembled at the Union Carriage and Wagon (UCW) plant in Nigel, to the east of Johannesburg. The technologically-advanced white carriages with gold and blue stripes are being fitted with windows, side panels, floors and doors are already at an advanced stage and expected to be completed before the end of June next year. The cars will include a host of features to ensure passengers are transported, safely and comfortably and have been customised to meet South African requirements. The carts will be proudly and distinctly South African modern trains and not carbon copies of the London undergrounds trains. The UCW company has invested some R15 million in their Nigel assembly plant to prepare it to work on the coaches. R5 million of this was invested in training to equip the company's personnel with the right skills. The plant employs 85 people, 17 of whom were trained at the Bombardier's (the train manufacturer's) facilities in Derby in the United Kingdom. The group spent a few months in the UK, being trained in competency assessments, transfer of technology training and computer programming as part of a skills and technology transfer that had been built into the Gautrain project contract. UCW Managing Director, Palello Lebaka said the 15 rail cars being manufactured at the Bombardier Transportation's workshop in the UK were expected to arrive in South Africa before the end of the year. The body shells and some of the major components for the remaining 81 rail cars were shipped in flat packs from Derby to the UCW for final assembly. As the car bodies are fabricated mainly from aluminium they have a relatively low mass and are more energy efficient than South Africa's present rolling stock. There will be 24 train sets in the Gautrain system, each consisting of four cars. Each four-car commuter train set is expected to comfortably carry up to 321 seated passengers. This is equivalent to 96 rail cars designed to run at an operational speed of 160 kilometres per hour. Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Ignatius Jacobs, who took a tour of the assembly plant in Nigel recently, said trains will ride on air suspension to ensure smooth travel at this high speed. The Gautrain project is largely aimed at commercially active people that need to travel between Johannesburg, Tshwane and OR Tambo International Airport. Two key market segments are existing motorists and airport passengers. Ten of the cars have been specially customised for use at the airport link, and contain additional features such as extra luggage space and wider seats. Gautrain's Chief Executive Officer, Jack van der Merwe said each car will have two electrically-operated sliding plug doors on each side and two roof mounted units, providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Matching height and minimised horizontal gaps between Gautrain's rail car floor and the platform will be a standard feature with the Gautrain, as with underground railways worldwide. This allows easy access for children, mobility impaired commuters, shoppers with heavy bags and the elderly. According to Mr van der Merwe, each train set will have a section allocated to wheelchairs and the entire Gautrain system will also accommodate mobility, sight and hearing impaired passengers. Inside the train, each rail car will be fitted with two high resolution display units providing information on the train's destination, updates on its progress along the route and notifications as stations are approached. In the event of delays, train drivers and conductors will be able to broadcast announcements using the train's public address system. Mr van der Merwe further said tight security on trains and stations will be maintained through access control and electronic surveillance, with over 650 Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and visible policing. Two CCTV cameras per car will record to an on-board DVD system, while images stored locally they may also be viewed on the Intelligent Display Unit (IDU) in the driver's cab. In the event of an accident, security threat, power failure or other emergency, alarm systems will register at the Operation and Maintenance Centre for the immediate despatching of the necessary safety, repair and rescue services. Gautrain's state-of- the-art designs incorporate crash and crush worthiness, and are fully compliant with modern safety requirements. A fully computerised rail signalling system will be managed via the Operation and Maintenance Centre. Efficient signalling will prevent train-to-train collisions and ensure safe movements at junctions or crossings as well as maintaining safe following distances. According to the Gautrain website forecasters have indicated a potential ridership of about 100 000 passengers per day following the launch, which is well over the international norm for a new rail service. An expected annual growth of 4.8 percent will result in more than 120 000 passengers per day by 2010. The Gautrain commuter fares will be lower than the perceived cost of using a car. It will, however, be more expensive than existing rail and taxi fares as the new train will offer a higher quality service Airport passengers' fare will be higher than the rate per kilometre charged on other services. The fare structure was developed in relation to existing taxi fares, bus fares and private car cost. - BuaNews |
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