Prasa to sign an agreement with French counterpart and France Development Agency
After Gibela Rail Transport consortium, a local subsidiary of Fench company Alstom, was awarded a R59-billion contract in 2013, the French have reciprocated with a generous R6-million grant agreement.
The first X’Trapolis Mega train unveiled by Gibela in December 2015. Supplied.
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) will on Monday, 27 November 2017, sign a tripartite financial and technical assistance agreement to the tune of R6.15 million with France’s national state-owned railway company SNCF and the French Development Agency (AFD).
The 12-month agreement, to commence in December 2017, will allow SNCF to provide expertise, training and exchange of experiences to Prasa with a view to strengthen the capacity of Prasa as regards rolling stock takeover.
The company will also assist Prasa with rail transport management within the context of the complex suburban environment, including in the takeover of ownership of the new Alstom-Gibela Metrorail trains.
In October 2013, Prasa awarded French company Alstom (through its local subsidiary Gibela Rail Transport Consortium) a rolling stock contract worth R59 billion to supply of 3 600 train cars to be manufactured in Dunnottar Park in Ekurhuleni municipality.
Commissioning of the new train sets started in early 2017, with the new service between Pienaarspoort to Pretoria already launched by President Jacob Zuma in May 2017. Prasa is expecting, over a period ahead, to take delivery of new train sets.
The delivery programme is scheduled to be concluded in 2025. The initial phase will be implemented in Gauteng, followed by the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and lastly the Eastern Cape.
The partnership with SNCF is aimed at ensuring Prasa’s new trains are operation-ready, deployed on time, and operated with the support of France’s extensive experience in the railway transport industry.
In addition, SNCF will deploy a technical expert to be permanently based in South Africa for the duration of the agreement.
The agreement will be signed by Martha Stein-Sochas of the French Development Agency, the acting CEO of Prasa Lindikaya Zide and France ambassador to South Africa, Christophe Farnaud.
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