South Africa: Gautrain confirms it's planning a massive extension

[27vet]

JOHANNESBURG – There’s good news for Gauteng commuters as the Gautrain management agency is planning to extend rail routes by 200 kilometres.

The first link may be ready in about six years.

Forty-eight new train coaches are needed to keep up with growing passenger numbers and seven companies have already expressed interest in designing and manufacturing them.

While transport officials have always vowed to extend routes across the province, it was estimated that this could take about 30 years.

The Gautrain has transported more than 50 million passengers, and now there are plans to expand the service with 48 new coaches and more routes.


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[27vet]

Hopefully the new trainsets will be the same quality and not some new deal with inferior manufacturers as certain departments are notorious for.

Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar, a model of train common in south-east England, was selected for the system.[40] Fifteen cars were manufactured and were assembled by Bombardier in Derby, UK, with the remaining cars assembled by UCW Partnership (Union Carriage & Wagon Co. (Pty) Ltd) in South Africa using structural components made in Britain.[41] Gautrain has 24 trains, each made up with four cars: 19 trains service the commuter network and five the airport link;[42] the latter consists of forward rail cars specially adapted for the airport link with storage area for luggage and more luxurious seating.[43] - Wikipedia