ERNEST MABUZA
Rail equipment company Bombardier Transportation announced that its Gautrain commuter fleet in South Africa has successfully completed 40m kilometres in service since operations started in 2010.
Bombardier said this was the equivalent of close to one million trips around the equator.
The Gautrain rapid rail link is an 80km commuter rail system in Gauteng which links Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ekurhuleni and OR Tambo International Airport.
Bombardier delivered the intercity rapid rail link as a complete turnkey system with a fleet of 24 four-car Electrostar trains and the Cityflo 250 train control system that provides smooth and safe travel for passengers at speeds of up to 160km/h.
Bombardier has a contract for the maintenance of the system until 2026.
“This is one of the most visionary projects in which we have been involved in Africa. Gautrain set a new global benchmark for an innovative rail system that benefits local communities and people,” said Makgola Makololo, MD SA Bombardier Transportation.
She said as the continent’s first world-class, modern rapid rail service, the Gautrain has had a positive effect on the lives of millions of Gauteng residents.
“We are proud of our highly reliable commuter fleet having completed around 900,000 trips on the Gautrain network.”
