The Bombardier Africa Alliance consortium had won a R1.1-billion contract to complete a conventional mainline resignalling project for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) in KwaZulu-Natal, said rail specialist Bombardier Transportation on Wednesday.

Bombardier Transportation was the lead member of the consortium, with its share of the contract valued at around R318-million.

The consortium’s other members were ERB Technologies, Basil Read, Bakara Engineering, R&H Railway Consultants, SIMS and Tractionel.

The consortium would deliver the Bombardier Interflo 200 rail control solution to Prasa, set for commissioning in 2017.

This was the first major delivery of Bombardier signalling technology to Prasa, said Bombardier in a statement.

The new technology would be delivered at 42 stations and across 120 km of double-track.

It would enable a 2.5-minute headway between trains, eliminating bottlenecks, while increasing safety and availability, promised Bombardier.

The upgrade would also introduce the latest-generation, high-capacity Bombardier EBI Lock 950 computer-based interlocking Release 4 and EBI Screen 900 local central traffic control systems to the market and included replacement of all wayside equipment.

Associated telecommunications equipment (fibre-optic backbone and voice radio) was also on the menu, while the civil works included modifications to existing platforms, track and overhead equipment, as well as new pedestrian bridges.

The project aimed to create around 270 new jobs. 

“Supporting South Africa in modernising and strengthening its rail control systems is a very exciting project and an important milestone in creating a long-term local presence in South Africa,” said Bombardier Transportation Rail Control Solutions president Peter Cedervall.

“Prasa . . .  is in a process of modernisation of its entire network to provide a first-class level service to commuters in the largest metropolitan areas in South Africa,” added Prasa signalling and telecommunications GM Sorin Baltac.

“The new signalling and telecommunication system will ensure the safety level, the frequency of the trains, and the traffic coordination required in a world-class rail commuter environment.”



Interflo 200 signalling solutions were typically used in busy, mainline networks, where headways were reduced and higher safety levels required. It had been installed in countries such as Brazil, Russia and Thailand and across Europe.



* Bombardier Transportation was established in South Africa in 1995. As the lead member of the Bombela consortium, it had been responsible for the core electrical and mechanical design and equipment for the Gautrain project. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.