SARCC to award Rolling Stock contracts worth R400 million

The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC), the provider of rail commuter services in South Africa (through Metrorail) with rolling stock portfolio worth over R28 billion, is set to award tenders worth about R400 million towards the end of the month.

The tenders are for the refurbishment of 176 coaches in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Two separate contracts of 88 coaches each will be awarded.

Wynand Burger, the managing director of the SARCC, said the massive capital expenditure programme was in support of the Corporation's broader masterplan to upgrade all its rolling stock both aesthetically and technically.

The train refurbishment programme will complement the ongoing upgrading of stations in six regions where commuter rail is provided. Rail commuting is the cheapest form of travel in South Africa. More than two million commuters travel on trains each day, with 300 000 going through the state-of-the-art Johannesburg Park Station.

Burger said the broader plan was that refurbishment would be followed by the eventual replacement of the entire fleet by 2040. SARCC's rolling stock has an average age of 27 years with quite a number already more than 40 years old.

In addition, the SARCC, which is committed to ensuring the provision of effective, efficient and sustainable rail commuter services, is positive about Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa's plan for a high-speed train between Johannesburg and Pretoria. "This signifies a renaissance of commuter rail in South Africa", said Mr Burger.

''We believe that through our current commuter rail activities and future plans, together with the proposed speed train project, will reposition rail as an important public transport provider in South Africa'' Burger concluded.

The SARCC contends that commuter rail in South Africa is in urgent need of more investments and recapitalisation which would improve mobility, create jobs and improve tourism prospects.