More trains for Gautrain

[Gag Halfrunt]

A new operating concession has been awarded for the Gautrain network in South Africa, and one of the requirements for the new concessionaire is to introduce eight new trains and refurbish the existing Electrostar fleet. Alstom is part of the winning consortium.

More trains and greater integration planned as next Gautrain operating concession awarded

SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng Provincial Government has awarded the Sihamba Sonke Mobility consortium the next contract to operate, maintain and refurbish the 80 km Gautrain passenger rail network connecting Pretoria, Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport. Gautrain Management Agency said there...

www.railwaygazette.com

SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng Provincial Government has awarded the Sihamba Sonke Mobility consortium the next contract to operate, maintain and refurbish the 80 km Gautrain passenger rail network connecting Pretoria, Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport.

Gautrain Management Agency said there will be a ‘renewed focus on investment, modernisation, operational sustainability, improved passenger experience and stronger integration with the province’s broader public transport network’.

Sihamba Sonke Mobility consortium

The SSM consortium brings together RATP Dev, Alstom, a joint venture of investors AIIM and Motseng, AWCA Investment Holdings, GIBB-CREDE and SSM InvestCo.

RATP Dev has operated and maintained Gautrain through its Bombela Operating Co subsidiary since the standalone 1 435 mm gauge network was launched in 2010.

It said the new 15-year contract which came into effect on September 28 would combine the experience of its skilled local workforce with access to its global network of rail specialists and international best practice.

Alstom is the maintenance partner for the current concession. Its share of the new contract is valued at €800m, and includes refurbishment and modernisation of the existing fleet, a new signalling system, communications upgrades and long term rail maintenance services.

Alstom Ubunye in Nigel will supply eight electric multiple-units, adding to the original fleet built by Bombardier Transportation in the UK.

Planned improvements

Improvements planned during the next contract period include:

increased train frequency during weekday off-peak periods;
extended operating hours;
expansion of the fleet from 24 to 32 four-car EMUs;
upgraded trains with improved passenger amenities;
improved integration between Gautrain trains and feeder bus services, with additional feeder routes and midibuses;
upgrades to stations, facilities and depots;
improved security and passenger information systems;
expanded public wi-fi and improved digital services;
full backup power provision for stations;
a planned 30% renewable energy contribution across stations and depots;
progressive introduction of account-based ticketing and an integrated Mobility-as-a-Service digital platform;
investing in workforce training and future rail talent;
supporting localisation and South African skills development;
deploying digital tools and predictive maintenance technologies to improve performance and reliability.

Pierre Cicion, Vice President Middle East & Africa at RATP Dev, said Gautrain is a ‘benchmark for passenger rail in Africa’, and ‘together with our South African partners, we look forward to supporting its future development through local talent, innovation and multimodal integration, while creating lasting value for Gauteng and its communities’.

Alstom Southern Africa Managing Director Tristan le Masne said ‘travellers will benefit from more frequent train service and smoother connections across the network. Together with our consortium partners, we are committed to delivering a better travel experience for South Africans.’

The Railway Gazette report states that the new trains will be built by Alstom Ubunye in Nigel, Gauteng. This is the factory that, under previous ownership, assembled the original Gautrain Electrostars from kits shipped from Derby. Given the small scale of the new order, I wonder if Alstom will take the same approach and supply Aventras in kit form for local assembly. (Alstom's marketing department would no doubt insist on calling them Adessia Streams.) The lead time for the order ought to be quite short because more Class 345s are being built right now. If I'm right, I imagine that the new Gautrain trains would be based on the Class 720, which has a seating layout and comfort level similar to Gautrain's Electrostars.

 

[Sorcerer]

An Aventra/Adessia seems like a natural choice here given that the Gautrain was built to British loading gauge standards. This is one of those rare situations where the off-shelf product available is specified to what is usually bespoke UK designs rather than European ones. How procurement works in South Africa though I'm not sure, so I can't declare it with much confidence beyond my own speculation.

 

[Bletchleyite]

An Aventra/Adessia seems like a natural choice here given that the Gautrain was built to British loading gauge standards. This is one of those rare situations where the off-shelf product available is specified to what is usually bespoke UK designs rather than European ones.

Thailand is the other example I suppose, both the 158s and the airport express/local Desiro units which are close to UK spec including the seat moquette!

I wonder why SA specified UK style?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Gautrain was built by a consortium including Bombardier, who found it convenient to supply Electrostars. The platforms are designed for level boarding with Electrostars, with a minimal gap between the train and the platform edge. The planners might have taken inspiration from the original 1990s Crossrail plans.

How procurement works in South Africa though I'm not sure, so I can't declare it with much confidence beyond my own speculation.

In this case procurement of the trains is up to the Sihamba Sonke Mobility consortium, which includes Alstom. The need to refurbish the Electrostars and procure trains that fit on infrastructure designed around them might have influenced the Gauteng government's decision to award the concession to Sihamba Sonke Mobility.

 

[Sorcerer]

Thailand is the other example I suppose, both the 158s and the airport express/local Desiro units which are close to UK spec including the seat moquette!

I wonder why SA specified UK style?

I think it was something to do with easier and attractive procurements similar to what the OP said above. For Thailand I am not quite sure though but I can only guess historical reasoning. When building a railway from scratch I don't see a lot of advantages to building to UK loading gauge compared to a more standard international UIC gauge but then Gautrain has already shown us where it might be of some benefit.

In this case procurement of the trains is up to the Sihamba Sonke Mobility consortium, which includes Alstom. The need to refurbish the Electrostars and procure trains that fit on infrastructure designed around them might have influenced the Gauteng government's decision to award the concession to Sihamba Sonke Mobility.

Possibly, we don't quite know. Having the same company for refurbishment and manufacturing might make things a little easier.

 

[AdamWW]

I think it was something to do with easier and attractive procurements similar to what the OP said above. For Thailand I am not quite sure though but I can only guess historical reasoning. When building a railway from scratch I don't see a lot of advantages to building to UK loading gauge compared to a more standard international UIC gauge but then Gautrain has already shown us where it might be of some benefit.

It's not surprising that the Thailand loading gauge is on the small side given that the track is metre gauge.
This is presumably why it made sense to export second hand Mk 2s to New Zealand.
(Though of course VIA rail in Canada happily run UK loading gauge coaches on their standard gauge track with a relatively large loading gauge).

I think it's not too unfair to say that in the UK we run trains on standard gauge track with a narrow gauge loading gauge, so to speak.

 

[edwin_m]

I imagine the original contract was let on a "turnkey" basis with no requirement to be compatible with anything else. The bidders would just have included whatever reasonably suitable train they could most easily supply, in this case an Electrostar with a different front end, and designed the infrastructure around it. Although UIC gauge would have given a wider variety of off-the-shelf designs, few of these offer level boarding and a flat floor as is possible with UK stock and a platform height of about 1100mm. Thus a UK design with a similar floor height was needed again, but Hitachi, Siemens and CAF as well as Alstom would have been able to offer something suitable.

Gautrain may have a bit of a problem for their next procurement, if the market for UK commuter trains has fully moved to a 914mm floor height by then.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

The Elizabeth Line is locked into 1100mm floors as well, unless several decades from now they close the entire Core, raise the trackbed to reduce the platform height and replace the entire fleet at the same time.

 

[edwin_m]

The Elizabeth Line is locked into 1100mm floors as well, unless several decades from now they close the entire Core, raise the trackbed to reduce the platform height and replace the entire fleet at the same time.

Yes true, as is Heathrow Express or whatever replaces it, and the East London Line but I'm not sure about the rest of the Windrush Line. But each of these will only need fleet renewal every 30+ years, so when Gautrain needs more or replacement units there may not be any off-the-shelf designs available.