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More Gautrain coaches on order

Passenger figures on the Gautrain have already reached levels only predicted for 2020 - exceeding all expectations. This has resulted in a R3.2 billion tender being put out by the Bombela Concession Company, the train’s operating company, for an additional 12 sets - or 48 new coaches - and a new depot to house the new trains. Currently there are 24 sets - or 96 coaches - running. “Passenger numbers have surprised us - it is a good and bad situation to be in. Good in that numbers have by far exceeded expectations and bad because we are running at full capacity, which is causing the trains to be full during peak times,” said Gauteng Management Agency spokeswoman Barbara Jensen. The coaches will not be assembled at Union Carriage in Nigel, where the first lot were built.

To accommodate the additional coaches, land will be found in Midrand, close to the existing depot, for the construction of a new depot. MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi on Monday announced that tenders were open, inviting reputable and established suppliers to qualify as shortlisted bidders by submitting a compliant request for qualification (RFQ) document for the design, manufacture, supply and maintenance of the new electrical train sets, as well as the design and construction of the depot. The coaches are expected to be on the rails by 2018. Vadi said that since the start of its operations, the Gautrain has shown strong and consistent passenger growth. “This has resulted in overcrowding during peak periods, necessitating additional train sets. The Gautrain system has, to date, been able to transport over 50 million passengers and currently carries 1.4 million passengers a month."

Vadi also highlighted the socio-economic development benefits of the Gautrain, saying its objectives were in line with the province’s strategic priorities, namely accelerating economic growth and infrastructure delivery, with an emphasis on job creation. Registration to have access to the RFQ document was open from Monday on http://gautrainrfq.co.za. Interested parties must send enquires to tenders@bombela.com.

Source: www.iol.co.za

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More Gautrain coaches on order

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