Technology transfer was an integral part of the train order. For many years South Africa has relied on refurbishing existing trains rather than acquiring new build, and the opportunity is being taken to develop local skills. ‘This is the first time in many years we have imported rail technology’, said Gautrain CEO Jack van der Merwe, the CEO of Gautrain.
He stressed that the Johannesburg – Tshwane line ‘would not be a test bed for untested technology’. Apart from the styling of the nose, the 160 km/h train is essentially the same as the Electrostar family of EMUs used in southeast England, though the Gautrain units have an upgraded traction package to cope with steeper gradients, heavier potential loads and hotter climatic conditions.
Bombardier Transportation President André Navarri said the ‘well-proven’ Electrostar platform has been ‘transformed for South Africa into a sleek product that will be the envy of the region’. Viewing the first completed train, van der Merwe joked that the launch was ‘a sad day for Derby’; he didn’t know when the factory would ‘see a train as beautiful as this again!’
ITNewsAfrica.com
