Between now and 2025 Voith will deliver a total of 4,800 Scharfenberg couplers for 600 new passenger trains in South Africa. This is the largest single order for the delivery of Scharfenberg Couplers in the company's history. The trains in question belong to the new model series X'Trapolis Mega from Alstom, which is also being built in South Africa.
The Voith couplers will be delivered over a period of ten years starting in autumn 2014. Apart from 3,000 semi-permanent couplers and 600 transitional couplers, the contract also includes 1,200 automatic couplers type 10. This type excels by its high strength and a wide horizontal and vertical gathering range. Since 2002 it has become standard for high-speed trains, and it is meanwhile also used in nearly all state railways in the world.
The X'Trapolis Mega trains are configured as single-deckers and consist of six carriages. These trains are capable of transporting up to 1,300 passengers. If required, the train sections can be coupled together and thus allow higher passenger numbers.
The Scharfenberg couplers convinced not only due to their strength, robustness and reliability. Voith was also able to comply with the localization expectations of the state-owned transport company PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa). Within the next ten years, Voith will gradually increase its local share in the production and the project management in Johannesburg, South Africa. Voith will also supply spare parts over a period of 18 years.
This order is an opportunity for Voith to further extend its location in South Africa and to localize its products.
PRASA intends to exchange out-of-date suburban trains in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Over the next 20 years, the state-owned company will procure over 7,000 rail vehicles. With this program, the South African government is launching a modernization campaign and promises millions of commuters improved public transport conditions, fewer delays and more reliability.
Modernity and sustainability are two attributes that meet the new South African suburban trains. Their recycling quota is 95%, the stainless steel bodies make the vehicles lighter, and modern electric brakes significantly reduce energy consumption. All of the 600 new trains are air-conditioned and fitted with real-time information systems.