Next stop negotiations

is a member of the Bombela consortium that has been selected by the Gauteng Provincial Government in South Africa to negotiate the terms of a concession contract for the financing, design, construction, and operation and maintenance of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link.

The 80-km Gautrain system will link Johannesburg, Tshwane and the Johannesburg International Airport. Bombardier, the lead member of the consortium, will be responsible for the core electrical and mechanical systems, including a fleet of Bombardier Electrostar vehicles. The opening of the rail link system, which includes 10 stations and a bus feeder system, is planned to coincide with the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Negotiation of the concession contract is expected to commence this month, with financial close expected in 2006.

Bombardier and Loliwe Rail Express will be responsible for the design and supply of the Electrostar vehicles, Bombardier CITYFLO 250 train control technology, power supply and distribution systems, communications systems, automatic fare collection, trackwork and maintenance equipment, as well as project management, systems engineering and integration, and testing and commissioning.

Bombardier Transportation’s facility in Derby, United Kingdom, will be responsible for manufacturing the fleet of Electrostar vehicles, with final assembly performed in South Africa by UCW Partnership, a subsidiary of Murray & Roberts.

In addition, Bombardier, with Loliwe Rail Express, will be responsible for maintenance services and training of South African personnel. The civil contractors will be responsible for all of the civil works, including tunnels, stations and the maintenance depot.