R74m Jo’burg – Durban rail upgrade makes progress

WORK IS progressing well on Protekon’s R74,5 million project to rehabilitate the 3kV Overhead Traction Equipment (OHTE) on the Merrivale to Nottingham Road section of the KZN main railway line for Spoornet. Spoornet embarked on the rehabilitation project after the old OHTE structures on the line could no longer be effectively maintained. Johan Haviga, Protekon manager, rail construction-electrical, said Protekon had been awarded the contract in May 2004 and by mid-May this year about 26% of the 30-month contract for the first phase of the rehabilitation work had been completed. The overall project extends from Merrivale to Estcourt. “Protekon’s contract involves the replacement of all mast foundations, masts, booms, cantilevers, and small steels. The existing wires are also being re-suspended on the new structures after the old structures have been removed,” Haviga stated. Some of the challenges inherent in the Protekon contract include executing the work on the busy mainline, linking Johannesburg and Durban, with minimum disruptions to scheduled services. “There are also aspects such as the daily risk to staff operating on a mainline where trains are still running, and working in close proximity to 3 000 volts of electricity. Furthermore, at the end of each day, the team has to ensure that the equipment is safe and commissioned for the running of electric trains,” he explained. Haviga said Protekon Rail’s Project Service had planned the layout of the OHTE and manages the technical liaison for Spoornet. A section of the Merrivale-Nottingham Road KZN main railway line … overall project extends from Merrivale to Estcourt.