Pretoria – Prasa’s Rolling Stock Fleet Renewal Programme is much more than the procurement of trains - the move is set to stimulate economic development and local manufacturing, says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
Minister Mathambi says the programme will bring this industry to its former glory and revive South Africa’s rail engineering sector.
“This is another special milestone in government’s commitment to build infrastructure that will stimulate the economy and support local procurement.”
The minister was speaking to the media on Thursday following a Cabinet meeting, which was held just days after the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) unveiled the final design of the new modern trains.
The new fleet of coaches is expected to take to the tracks next year.
Prasa will spend R51 billion over the next 10 years to procure 600 top class trains for the people of South Africa. A total of 580 of these trains will be manufactured in South Africa at a new factory to be established in Dunnotar, outside Nigel in Ekurhuleni, at a cost of R1 billion.
The 600 000 m2 manufacturing facility is designed to house the manufacturing plant, a training facility and fully fledged industrial park. The project will create 8 088 direct jobs, which are part of over 33 000 direct and indirect jobs over the 10-year period, achieving a local content level of over 65%.
The brand new, modern and safe commuter trains will boast the latest technology for the thousands of South Africans that use trains as their only mode of transport. Over the years, the system has been plagued by poor infrastructure. – SAnews.gov.za
