Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Gautrain - Video of the underground tunnel



GAUTRAIN COACH INTERIORS MADE IN WALES

Gautrain rolling stock incorporates material supplied by Precision Cast Components (PCC), a company based in Newport, Wales. In its factory, PCC has fabricated the interior panelling for all 96 coaches. The contract has meant expansion, which has been funded to the tune of £160,000 by the Corus group subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise.

Managing director of PCC Mark Isaac, pleased to have won such a prestigious contract, was quoted saying: “Bombardier has the contract for the whole railway, and we have worked closely with them for many years on projects around the world”.

PCC is now the biggest supplier of rail interiors in the UK. It has supplied the Kowloon and Canton Railway in Hong Kong, and in the UK the Southern Rail and Virgin companies have placed substantial orders with the firm.

Mr Isaac said: “Bombardier knows that we will provide high quality products, and that our manufacturing techniques are constantly being improved and updated. “They also know we will deliver on time, bearing in mind that Gautrain faces a tight timetable to be ready for the World Cup.”

The Welsh press reported excitedly: “Fans at next year’s World Cup in South Africa will be transported on ultra-modern trains built with the help of Precision Cast Components (PCC), a company based in Newport, Wales.”

[ In fact, Gautrain’s main-line to Pretoria will not be open until mid-2011 and even the line to the airport is not scheduled for completion until several weeks after the games start in early June 2010. - via

Sights around Sandton






Tuesday, August 4, 2009

OR Tambo runs short of fuel

Johannesburg - OR Tambo International Airport has only about two days of fuel supply left, and airlines have been asked to reduce their fuel uptake, Business Day reported on Tuesday.

This is apparently because of slow delivery by Transnet and the temporary shutdown of the Natref fuel pipeline at the weekend.

"We have put steps in place to ensure we do not run out of fuel," Chris Zweigenthal, the deputy chief executive of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, told the daily.

The global benchmark is about five-and-a-half days of fuel reserves, he said.

Dave Scagell, operations manager at Chevron Global Aviation, the managing partner co-ordinating fuel supply at OR Tambo International, said it was not the first time the airport had experienced fuel shortages.

"The main thing is to ensure that we take steps to prevent the airport running out of fuel. That is why we have asked the airlines to reduce their uplift where possible," said Scagell.

The report said airlines were asked to reduce their fuel uptake by 30% and to refuel elsewhere.

- SAPA

Monday, August 3, 2009

8 Fun facts you probably did not know about the Gautrain

1. The first public passenger trip was made on 3 February 2009 by 150 people on a 3km test track at the depot.

2. Fifteen cars will be manufactured and assembled by Bombardier in Derby and the remaining cars will be assembled by UCW Partnership (Union Carriage & Wagon Co. (Pty) Ltd) in South Africa using structural components made in Britain.

3. Gautrain will consist of 24 trains, each made up with four cars linked together: nineteen trains will service the commuter network and five trains will service the airport link

4. The train is expected to cut the number of cars on the N1 Ben Schoeman Highway highway by 20%, with 100,000 daily passenger trips.

5. On July 8, 2008, the first four-car train set was handed over to the Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa
Mbhazima Shilowa

6. 65 road intersections will be upgraded during construction.

7. More than six million cubic metres of soil will have to be moved and disposed of.

8. Gautrain will operate from 05:30 to 20:30.

Gautrain making its way from Durban Port








Gautrain’s 15-km-long tunnel nears completion

Around 14 km of the 15-km-long tunnel of the multibillion-rand Gautrain rapid rail project has been completed.

The underground route of the Gautrain stretches from Johannesburg’s Park station to Parktown Ridge and on to Rosebank, Sandton, to where it surfaces at the Marlboro portal.

Construction of the train depot facilities, including the train system administration buildings and operations control centre, located in Midrand, is also complete.

This centre will be the heartbeat of the Gautrain, from where signalling, telecommunications, automatic fare collection, traction power and overhead distribution will be managed.

The Gautrain, which government esti- mates will carry 300 000 passengers a day by 2011, will see a minimum of six trains an hour running in peak times between Johannesburg, Tshwane and OR Tambo International Airport by 2011.

via

More shapes and lines around OR Tambo