13 March 2000
SARCC awards Rolling Stock contracts worth R400 million
The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC), the provider of commuter rail services in South Africa (through Metrorail) with a rolling stock portfolio worth over R28 billion, announced today that it has awarded tenders worth R400 million over the next three financial years.
The tenders are for the refurbishment of 176 coaches in the Wits and the Western Cape regions. Two separate contracts of 88 coaches have been awarded.
Wynand Burger, the managing director of the SARCC, said the tender in Western Cape was awarded to Adtranz, in association with Transwerk. Adtranz is a member of Daimler Chrysler and Transwerk is the workshop business unit of Transnet, the state-owned transport giant.
The tender in Wits was awarded to Siemens, in association with Union Carriage and Wagon. Union Carriage and Wagon is a dedicated local railway coachbuilder, based in Nigel.
All four companies have vast experience of the local railway coach arena, with both Adtranz and Siemens particularly active internationally.
In terms of the plan, the signing of the contracts will be followed by the design phase said Mr Burger. Transwerk would execute the Adtranz contract in their workshops in Cape Town. The Siemens contract would be done in Nigel.
The existing Class 5M2A coaches, with the design dating back to 1950, would be rebuilt to the latest Class 10M standard. The old resistor controlled propulsion system would be replaced with the latest technology for 3000 volts D.C. (Direct Current) applications, retaining the existing D.C. traction motors.
The total coach body would be replaced with new panels, making use of international acceptable standardised methods. The coach interior would be much more user friendly for passengers, according to the latest Class 10M specification.
The total refurbishment contract is expected to take two-and-a-half years, both contracts running simultaneously. Mr Burger assured commuters that their daily travel to and from work would not be affected.
On a strategic level, Burger indicated the train refurbishment programme was part of the Corporation's commitment to recapitalising its assets and investing in rolling stock. 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 a number already more than 40 years old.
