Construction of R1-billion train manufacturing plant underway
The Ekurhuleni Metro is set to harbour a R1-billion, 72ha train manufacturing plant in Dunnottar.
It is envisaged for the project to arrest the plight of unemployment within the region with over 2 000 permanent job opportunities to be created.
The groundbreaking initiative by Prasa-Gibela in partnership with the National Department of Transport and the City of Ekurhuleni is officially under way following a sod-turning ceremony that took place in Dunnottar recently.
The project, part of the national passenger rail modernisation programme, is also in line with the metro’s re-industrialisation agenda.
It is expected to benefit local emerging industrialists and artisans by empowering them with specialised industrial skills.
Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony of the plant, Ekurhuleni Mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele expressed his pleasure at the commencement of the mega project.
“The establishment of this plant is a great milestone for the metro. Zoning such a big space of land for such an initiative gives one a sense of relief, knowing that it is for the benefit of our people.
“The job opportunity projections and the economic boost that will be brought about by the existence of this plant in our metro speaks volumes,” said Gungubele.
The plant will enable Prasa (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) to have new trains manufactured and maintained locally.
The manufacturing of components for the new trains will also take place at the facility, which has a capacity to produce a total of 580 trains or 3 480 coaches.
Several kilometres of rail network, including1,2km of dynamic test track, have also been included in the plant design in order to test complete train sets at speeds of up to 132km per hour, which is on par with international testing facilities.
“When Prasa issued a request for proposals for the manufacturing of our new trains to the market in 2012, we were clear from the outset that a minimum of 65 per cent of the deal will have to be localised.
“This meant that any proposal under consideration by Prasa must prioritise and promote localisation as part of fulfilling our requirements for the deal,” said Prasa chairman Dr Popo Molefe.
Of the 72ha set aside for the main plant, approximately 30ha have been reserved for a supplier park. This will house all the suppliers to the main manufacturing plant, namely SMMEs specialising in various areas of rail-related manufacturing
Within the next 10 years, the supplier park will become a centre of excellence for train manufacturing.
“All the training at the plant will be undertaken by Gibela which means that South Africans will benefit from world-class skills within the rail industry,” said Molefe.
“All those trained candidates will not only focus on Gibela to create job opportunities, but they themselves will drive technological innovations that will revolutionise the rail industry.
“This is how Prasa sees government’s vision as part of a bigger narrative on industrialising South Africa.”
