This week saw the start of construction on a 72-hectare Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) train manufacturing plant in Dunnottar, Nigel.
According to a statement by the Gauteng government, the project is part of the national passenger rail modernisation programme and is also in line with the City’s re-industrialisation agenda. It is expected to benefit local emerging industrialists and artisans by empowering them with specialised industrial skills.
“The establishment of this plant is a great milestone for the city. Zoning such a big space of land for such an initiative gives one a sense of relief knowing that it is for the benefit of our people. The job opportunity projections and the economic boost that will be brought about by the existence of this plant in our City speaks volumes,” said Ekurhuleni executive mayor, Mondli Gungubele.
The plant, valued at approximately R1 billion, will enable Prasa to have new trains manufactured and maintained locally. The manufacturing of components for the new trains will also take place at the facility, which has the capacity to produce a total of 580 trains or 3480 coaches.
Out of the 72 hectares of land set aside for the main plant, approximately 30 hectares have been reserved for a Supplier Park. This will house all the suppliers to the main manufacturing plant which are made up of SMMEs specialising in various areas of rail-related manufacturing. Within the next ten years, the Supplier Park will become a Centre of Excellence for Train Manufacturing.
